So you are planning on emigrating to Australia, New Zealand or some other foreign country and leaving your old life behind? It will be an exciting transition filled with possibilities and opportunities, but as well as being a new beginning it is also the ending of a chapter of your life. Also there might be more jobs in demand in Australia so you could find more possibilities for a prosperous future.
Of course, before you move on to your new home it’s important to say goodbye to the old one. Before you leave you might want to have a get together so that you can say farewell to all of your friends and family.
A going away party, otherwise known as a “leaving do” doesn’t have to be a sad event. Yes, there will be a few tears as your friends say goodbye to you, but it can also be a lot of fun to have one last hurrah with all of the people you care about. Here are some tips for planning your going away party and making sure that it goes as smoothly as possible.
Choose a Theme
Having a theme can make a party a lot more fun, so pick something that will liven up the event. You could base the theme around the destination you are moving to. For example, an Australian themed barbeque if you are moving down under, a Mardi Gras theme if you are moving to New Orleans or a taco fiesta if you are moving to Mexico. If you have the culinary skills you could cook the appropriate food, but if not you can call up a local restaurant and have them cater instead.
Ask for Moving Supplies Rather Than Gifts
Your friends might be thinking of bringing you a going away gift, but the truth is that you have been trying to reduce your possessions to make the move easier so you don’t have too much stuff to transport. Let your friends know this and ask them to bring you moving supplies such as boxes and packing material rather than bulky gifts. It will be much appreciated and will make your moving process a lot easier.
Have a Guest Book
Set up a book at the party where your guests can write you a message and sign their names. They can share funny quotes, sentimental messages or inside jokes. When you start to feel a bit lonely in your new home you can read through the book to cheer yourself up. You could even include an instant Polaroid camera next to the book so that your guests can take photos of themselves and stick them into the book.
It doesn’t even have to be a book, it could be a t-shirt, a wall hanging or a flag that everyone signs with a message. Either way, it’s a meaningful gift that you can take with you to your new home.
Party Games
Why not organise some games at the going away party to make things a bit more fun? You could arrange items on the floor and have your guests pack a travel bag or a suitcase as quickly as they can. You can set a timer and have a prize for whomever packs the bag first. Or, you could fill several boxes or old suitcases with clothing and hide a prize inside one of them. Have your guests choose a suitcase and see who finds the prize.
Give Out Your Contact Info
Get a bunch of little cards made up with your email and your phone number and address in the new country you are moving to. You can hand them out to everyone at the party to make sure that they all know how to contact you once you move. You can also ask everyone else to bring a business card or to write their address down in a book, so that you have the contact details of all of your friends and family and can send them a letter or a postcard from your new home.
Keep these tips in mind so that you can have an excellent going away party before you move abroad – an opportunity to say a final farewell to all of your friends and loved ones as you head off to start your new life!
