Adjusting Abroad

10 Tips for Living Abroad  

I've been in China for nearly a month and I'm still adjusting to my new life. My first couple weeks were nothing short of a struggle. On top of the normal stresses that come along with moving, I am settling into a city where hardly anyone speaks English. I have never lived alone before, so all of the change is overwhelming. Here are a few tips to help your adjustment process easier. Whenever you are feeling homesick, remember that you moved away from home for a reason!

Make Peace with Your Decision

Your first month is going to be tough. Everything will seem harder than it needs to be. You will probably feel like the entire country is out to get you. Make peace early on with your decision to move. You moved to this country for a reason. Stop thinking about all of the reasons why you want to go home and remember why you are there!

Patience

Moving to a country where English is not the national language will teach you patience in a hot second. Quick trips to the store for detergent can turn into hour long game of charades with the sales rep. Being patient with people will go a long away. Refrain from being rude and impatient with people. Whie a language barrier is present, miscommunication is bound to occur. Be patient with yourself. Don't try and do too much in a day. Plan your days with the awareness than simple tasks will take 5x longer than they did back home.

Honey I'm Home!

Embrace the fact that you have a new home. Don't compare your new home or city to where ever you flew in from. Make your living space comfortable and cozy. Have fun with your space. Decorate and make it your own. Each day abroad can feel like the longest day ever, so make sure your new home is a place of peace and serenity.

Make Friends

Be friendly, but be aware. Making friends is essential to helping you navigate your new life. Your new friends will be able point you in the direction of cool places to hang and make your overall transition much easier. Be cautious of who you befriend. I recommend arranging meetings in public places during the day time you are still getting to know new acquaintances.

Learn the Language

 It might be easier to pick up French than Mandarin, but it's especially important to pick up words that will help you navigate. It's also important to pick up to local lingo, for example in India, Hindi is the national language but in each state the local language is entirely different. If English isn't the national language, don't get frustrated if people don't speak English. It's not their job to accommodate you, make a conscious effort to learn their language.

Eat the Food TINA!

(Napoleon Dynamite Reference!) Whatever the local cuisine, TRY IT. Do not deprive your taste buds of the unique flavors and spices of the local cuisine. The worst that could happen is that you hate it. Who knows you may fall absolutely in love. I fell in love with Indian food while I was in Kerala, a cuisine I had never craved prior. Be cautious of restaurants that don't look clean, if it doesn't look sanitary, don't eat there.

Stay True to Yourself

Do things that make you happy. Just because you are in a foreign country doesn't mean you can't continue to be you. It's going to take extra effort but make sure you continue to do your thing. If you love to cook, go to the local market, get food, and cook. If you love to hike, go find a trail and hike. Continue to do the things that make you happy and make you, YOU.

Embrace the Culture

Everywhere in the world you will find that people do the same things everyday, but just a bit differently. Don't try to impose your way, just observe and learn. You might not love everything about the local culture, but you will soon learn there are many different ways to do the same thing.

Dora the Explorer

Never stop exploring. My guess is that if you have decided to live abroad, you're probably a wanderer anyway. Once you get settled into your new home, go out and explore your new neighborhood and the surrounding areas. Look for cool places that you can spend time away from home. It's very easy while living abroad to stay in at home all day, watch Netflix and drink wine, but don't be scared to go out and explore. Trust me, they have wine outside of your home.

Learn Transportation

Familiarize yourself with the transportation system. In most metropolitan cities you will have access to cabs, buses, and metros. Make sure you are aware of your surroundings and you know where you are at all times. There is nothing worse than looking and feeling lost in a foreign country. Take some time out to learn your way around and it will make you feel safer and more confident in your new home.