Migrating: how to move back to Uganda

The move. It is a common topic of conversation in the diaspora. Like scent of good food, it hangs around at family and cultural gatherings where everyone waxes nostalgic as they share stories of the old country, mixing tales of boarding school exploits with alcohol-inspired political punditry. It is a part of the fabric of the lifestyle that we call "living abroad".

But perhaps you have tired of the talk. Perhaps your chosen nine-to-five has began to weigh more heavily on you. Perhaps on your last visit back home you took a look around and thought to yourself, "why not?". Maybe your newly found sense of urgency has been spurred by the recent global financial crisis. Or maybe you are just tired of winters, long-distance phone cards, and the sounds of voices that should never have been so distant in the first place. Even the riots have not fazed you; you are ready to move back home.

If so then good on you, but a mixed sense of fatigue and restlessness does not necessarily mean that you will be better off back in the old country. Just ask those who have made the move back home and they will tell you that it takes more than desire to resettle happily; it is important to have a plan.

Here are a few ideas on how to make a smooth transition.

Set some goals

Picture yourself being back home. What do you see yourself doing there? If you are drawing a blank, then you have little more than a desire at the moment. You will need something more. How do you plan to make a living? What kind of social and family life do you hope for? You do not need to have everything mapped out, but it helps to have some basic ideas in place for the next few steps.

Float the idea

Get in touch with family and friends and seek out their advice. The people who know you best will be well-placed to advice you on your plans. They will be familiar with the economy and the cultural climate. Tell them about your vision for a life back home and they will help prune your expectations. They can tell you how that plan of yours to make millions selling solar panels is a few years too late, or how the vehicle import business is overcrowded, or how the corruption is not nearly as awful as you remember.

Oh sure, some of them may already be pressing you to make the move, but if you ask the right questions you will learn enough to make any resulting grief worth your while.

Save your money

If what you have heard from family and friends has not diminished your enthusiasm then it is time to start putting money away to that end. This should really be a given, but we have all heard the stories of the people who show up on their own shores broke. Some overestimate the value of a dollar or a pound and take too little. Others forget to consider the daily expenses involved in getting around the city and the rising costs of food. Don't do that.

Ask about the costs of living in the country for a year and try to save that much, keeping the money separate from your regular savings. This, after all, is not a rainy day fund.

Whether you are earning dollars, euros or pounds, this will likely take some time, but remember that you are planning for the long term so take your time. It will make all the difference on the next step.

Sample

Whether you visit regularly or not at all, it helps to make trial run. And not just a short holiday but an extended visit that will allow you to see what it feels like to live and work there everyday.

This was the advice a good friend offered me, based on his own experience. He told me how he moved back home for a year, during which he worked as a consultant for a couple of telecom companies. He said that while the early part of that year was tough, he used small projects to demonstrate his work ethic and make contacts in the industry. The intermittent work schedule also allowed him to travel around the country and spend time with family and friends. By the end of that year, he not only had some great job offers, but also a clear sense of what life would be like if he chose to stay.

Build a network

In any country and culture, a network of friends is invaluable. So if you have not kept up with your old friends, you might want to look them up. This is always tricky, but if you avoid the arrogant approach you should be fine. Just remember that their lives have continued to evolve since you left, and that everyone knows someone living overseas so that alone will not make you appealing company. Ask after their lives and families and they will do likewise, and you can take it from there.

If you never had much of network before, it is not that hard to build one. There are plenty of social events around work, sports, and faith groups. Take your pick, show up, and make an effort.

Prepare for frustration

The bureaucracy is as efficient as the power supply is consistent, if not worse. The customer service will make you want to break something. The police force is corrupt. The traffic sucks. And, the gossip will make the world seem as about as large as a peanut.

These things come with the territory. If you complain incessantly about them, you will only irritate those around you because everyone has to live with the same frustrations.

Celebrate the little things

Instead, count your blessings. Good weather and good food, shared with friends you can call up for less than a dollar. Family whose faces are not simply pictures on a wall. The life abroad is easier in many ways, but if you have decided that it is not for you, then you should celebrate the little things that make the difference. They are, after all, the reason you decided to migrate in the first place.

Africa on the whole is often seen as either a holiday destination or one big-aid project, but for many millions of people it is home, and that is not always for lack of choice. If you have some advice of your own, you are welcome to post it here.