Settling In Smoothly in your new country: What & How
You found your way to the supermarket without taking unplanned detours. Finally, you begin to recognize my neighborhood and you can find your new house without navigation. Your mailbox has your name on it and it’s all starting to feel familiar.You’re on your way to feel like a local and wish to call this your new ‘’home’’.
Settling in another country, especially in the beginning, involves a series of stressful events, crisscrossed by occasional periods of calm.
From minor, meaningless things to more profound and serious matters, settling in often includes the following:
- learning new ways of doingthings
- learning to do things you’ve never done be- fore
- stopping yourself from doing things you can no longerdo
- adjusting to a completely new bunch of people
- learning to live and work in a location where you speak a foreign language
- getting used to various new and unusual circumstances
- learning to live without all kinds of familiar routines
After living abroad for many years, I can only see the positives and meaningful sides to the entire process of settling in. Looking back to my first move, I remember the stress I felt wasn’t so positive, to say the least. Not just the fear of the unknown, but also having to learn everything for the first time, from finding a house to learning the language to various registrations to get- ting to know the people. The process of settling in may feel fantastic on one day, and then anxiety creeps in the next. It’s a rollercoaster of emotions on a ride that lasts for awhile.
Here is a list of suggestions from actual expat experiences from around the world to help you settle in more easily and successfully:
- Things you can do with other people:
o Invite people over to your house
o Go to a movie, cafe, etc.
o Participate in a team sport or fitness class
o Work as a volunteer for a good cause
o Find a cycle, walking, or running group
- Things you can do on your own:
o Read books, newspapers, or magazines
o Cook a meal
o Take a walk outside
o Meditate
o Go see a movie
o Write in your journal
o Go to a restaurant or café
o Go shopping
o Exercise or join a gym
o Take a ride by bike, car, or bus
o Watch people while sitting in a café or a park
o Study a new language
- Things to remember during difficult moments:
o This too will pass
o I came here to experience a challenge
o I’ve been through worse than this
o It’s natural to feel down from time to time,nomatter where
o It’s not just me
o Things didn’t always go well back home either
o I have taken on a lot;It’s OK to feel overwhelmed from time to time
Patience Is aVirtue
Settling in can be a stressful challenge;it takes time,effort, and patience, which for some of us is easier than others.
Be open, trusting, patient, and enjoy the unique experience.
Have fun, listen, smile, embrace change and discover more about the world and yourself.
EXPLORE. DREAM. DISCOVER.
If you have any questions, leave a comment, I’d love to hear from you.
Great advice Rachel, it's a wonderful day when it all starts to feel 'normal'. We're incredibly blessed to live in this beautiful country.