The big day is around the corner. Soon you will be packing your bags, say goodbye to family and friends, and hop on a plane or a train to live in your dream country.
Congratulations!
Moving abroad is one of the most exciting life changes you can make, but it’s also the scariest. What will happen once you land? How will you survive? Will you make friends easily?
To have a smooth move, you will need a survival plan to ensure that you won’t board the next plane home after a few days or weeks. So, if you’re planning on moving abroad, here are a few remarkable ways to survive and get you settled in your new home within the first year of your stay.
Make Connections
Friends are what makes a place a home. Often, one of the most significant sources of homesickness is the lack of close contact with people around and missing loved ones. The sooner you make new connections, the more you will start to fit in your current community. Also, the less time you’ll have to focus on how much you miss the ones you’ve left behind. The process can be challenging, but putting yourself out there as soon as you have started to settle is vital. Make an effort to socialize and set down fresh roots. Visit a local bar, networking event, or volunteer at a charitable organization for a few weeks.
If possible, start connecting with new friends online even before moving. These pals can be of great help during the early stages of your settlement, and you can learn from them what to expect once you land in your dream country. To kill loneliness, Skype can be a fantastic way to keep in touch with the family and friends back home.
Learn the language
A language barrier can make you feel out of place, especially if you are moving to a country that doesn’t use a commonly spoken language such as English. How will you be able to find your way around the city if you can’t understand and translate a mere street signboard? While most countries use English to some degree, how they pronounce and write some words will differ significantly. For instance, if you are moving to Canada, and French or English isn’t your mother tongue, you don’t need to worry. Even English speakers may need to adjust their vocabulary to speak the Canadian way.
It’s better to learn the new language as far in advance as you can before you move. Once you arrive, have some translating devices or books to help you translate before you master the language fully. There are great programs to help you with your language skills, but you need to be patient. It takes time to be comfortable speaking a foreign language.
Master their Culture
As they say, when in Rome do as the Romans do. Different countries have different customs that may differ from the one you are used to. So, it’s essential to adapt to the culture of the people around you. Don’t be afraid of being an awkward foreigner at first. You will make mistakes, of course, but as long as you exercise a bit of common courtesy and basic etiquette, you will find yourself on the right path with the locals and friends.
You don’t want to get deported for breaking laws and getting in trouble with your neighbors. Bond with your new friends and connections by showing an understanding of their customs and participating in their holidays. Half of the fun of living somewhere new is the exploration of what they do. You can ask your new friends for help when you feel overwhelmed, and although they may have a good laugh about it, you will have someone to help you out along the way.
Keep up with your Hobbies
What do you usually do in your free time? Do you love sports, movies, hiking, or fishing? Don’t give this up when you move abroad. Look for sports clubs, gyms – or whatever your hobbies are – in your new city. This will not only allow you to continue with your regular life, but you will also meet new people and continue expanding your friendship circle.
It’s so tempting to let all old healthy habits die until your clothes start to feel too tight, and you notice your face bloating in photos. So, stay active, have fun in your current environment, and try new things. Living abroad is a fantastic way to develop new interests, skills, and passions that you might not have realized back home.
Living abroad is never easy. It will be a challenge, but with the right survival strategies, it’s entirely possible and worth it. Follow these tips, and you’ll have a new life in a remarkable country abroad in no time.
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