Being an expat can at times, be a challenging lifestyle. Adjusting to cultural differences and norms is definitely not easy, but can be extremely rewarding and offer a high lifetime value in the end. 

So, we created a list of the five must-have items every expat should have in their back pocket to make life just that much easier. Whether you are currently an expat or are planning to move abroad, here are some of the top items you should have or bring with you.

1. Solar Phone Charger
   
   There are, of course, endless charging devices out there to pick from. You are probably more familiar with the portable charging devices where you pre-charge before use. However, because we are not all heroes, what happens when we forget to actually pre-charge the device?! Well sadly, our phone usually dies! So, when we saw this product we were confident we finally found a solution to a common dilemma. A Solar Phone Charger! This device can let you travel wherever/whenever while leaving the worries of “pre-charging” behind. Keep your phone and devices charged no matter the location!
   
2. Portable Laptop Lock
   
   Picture this: you’re sitting at your favorite coffee shop or shared workspace, belongings sprawled over the table, and suddenly you realize you need to get up to grab some more sugar or paper or even need to just go to the bathroom. Do you pack up all of your belongings to just return to your seat in a few seconds? Better yet, you don’t want to risk the best seat in the house (yours, of course). With this Portable Laptop Lock, you can secure your device in any location with confidence. 
   
3. Pen Scanner
   
   A pen scanner is a perfect and necessary tool for an expat. A pen scanner is essentially, a great time-saving tool that lets you scan any printed text onto your PC or smartphone, meaning no more retyping notes! With a pen scanner, you have the ability for flawless note-taking, the ability to translate text and options to have your notes read aloud back to you to ensure you didn’t miss a single thing. As an expat, you are living abroad, and in more cases than one the issue of language barriers can arise. With a pen scanner, and Scanmarker specifically, you have the option to translate over 40 languages. That means contracts, simple messages and even restaurant menus can be translated to your native language with ease.
   
4. VPN Subscription
   
   A VPN (Virtual Private Network) subscription can be truly invaluable to an expat (and honestly anyone that has a WiFi connection!). As an expat, you are most likely using a laptop and connecting to both secure and unsecured WiFi networks. A VPN can help ensure that your private information will remain private and can prevent attacks from hackers and/or viruses. As a fun plus, you can also access Netflix US with SaferVPN!
   
5. Hydro Flask
   
   You might be thinking, “Really? A water bottle made the list?” to which we respond, heck yes! The Hydro Flask, which comes in a multitude of colors and sizes, keeps cold drinks cold for 24 hours and keeps hot drinks hot for 12+ hours. From meeting to meeting, and especially those early morning meetings, you can truly own a product that will keep your refreshments, fresh!