Flying across time zones, day and night, is second nature to most people these days. It's never been easier to travel or indeed move abroad. And if packing up home was as simple as stepping onto a plane, there might be many more of us considering relocating to another country. We'd be searching out somewhere hotter, cheaper, more stimulating; the list goes on. However, moving abroad can be as fraught as it is exciting.

The Irish playwright, George Bernard Shaw famously said, when describing the differences between the American and British that they were "countries divided by a common language". And not much has changed to dispute his viewpoint. Take for example the American woman who on arriving in London went to the dry cleaners and asked for them to take up her pants. They politely suggested it would be cheaper to go and buy another pair. They had no idea she was referring to trousers. A simple mistake but prone to misunderstandings. So, what are the major considerations when moving abroad?

Language needs to be at the top of the list, because, as illustrated, even if we think we speak the same language we can get it very wrong. Multiply the difficulties when speaking a completely foreign language and you begin to appreciate how crucial it is.

Hot on the heels of language would be cultural differences. And this applies both on a business and personal level. 'Business' is international but there are variations. Observing protocols in other countries pays dividends when cutting deals. Because what works for one doesn't necessarily work for another.

"The Irish playwright, George Bernard Shaw famously said, when describing the differences between the American and British that they were 'countries divided by a common language'."

Latest estimates from the Institute for Public Policy suggest more than 5.5million UK-born people live abroad permanently. That's equivalent to 9% of the population. There are 1.3 million Britons resident in Australia, for instance, 678,000 in America and 200,000 in France, not counting those with holiday homes. The world is travelling and becoming more multi-cultural.

For all the Brits that leave there's plenty wanting to fill their space. But how difficult is it to walk in step with British culture? Remember that woman and the pants? That was Eva Stock, an American who's lived in London for 15 years. She's director of marketing for Focus, a company that should be the first port of call for any foreigner coming to live in Britain, because they help take the strain out of moving and adjusting to a 'new' life.

Focus is a non-profit organisation that was set up by five women 25 years ago. All expats in Britain, they quickly realised how useful it would be to access a central point for information and advice. It's that settling in period they can help and advise with as well as providing support on a longer term basis. And all this for just £100 a year membership. This gives you access to the member only website where you can find answers to those 'moving' questions. They have a telephone helpline and people can visit the office for assistance. For those who've just arrived and experiencing IT difficulties, they offer computer access with broadband at their offices.

The organisation helps individuals prepare for all eventualities. They advise the best approach to moving to the UK is to recognise that 'anything that can go wrong, will go wrong' and 'expect everything to take longer than usual'. Eva says, "We predominately focus on Greater London and the South East, which is where most of our members are located. But we will research for people if they are further afield."

"They advise the best approach to moving to the UK is to recognise that 'anything that can go wrong, will go wrong' and 'expect everything to take longer than usual'."

If Focus can't provide the answer to your queries it's probably because there isn't one. They work with 47 different nationalities; American, French, Brazilian, Indian, Finnish and more. Eva comments, "We run seminars, offer a career development programme for accompanying spouses, and cross-cultural training with international company Coghill and Beery." She explains, "It's about finding out about your culture and the culture you're working with."

The most difficult practicality for Eva when she arrived in the UK was opening a bank account, something Focus offers advice on. Add to that finding a doctor, understanding the NHS, council tax, locating a school, currency and tax issues, what to do about your driver's licence and much more, and you begin to understand that moving abroad is not as simple as it seems. Focus, will help where it can. The most unusual request Eva remembers, is someone wanting to know where there was 'doggy day care'.

With professional relationships with large organisations such as Coutts, Goldman Sachs, and Shell, Focus clearly fills a much needed gap. And as an expat, you'll begin to understand, with their help, how to negotiate the 'new' world of Britain and realise that speaking English is a little more complicated than you might have thought. If you can remember that Leicester Square is pronounced Lester Square and the Thames is really the Tems, than you're on your way to assimilating into British English.

For further information visit www.focus-info.org or email office@focus-info.org . For more information on Coghill and Beery, visit www.coghillbeery.com

By Michele Nevard