[header] How to survive and enjoy being an expatriate [title] Know what to expect. [step] Make sure you research your new country. You will want to know all of their customs beforehand, so you don't accidentally make a cultural gaffe while you're there. 
Become very familiar with their food, art, lifestyle, national pastimes, and maybe even a bit of history if you're interested. And if the language spoken there is one other than your native one, for goodness' sake make sure you are able to speak it, at least passably.