Getting Adjusted After Moving to a New Country

Moving to a new country is equal parts exhilarating and scary. You never realize quite how strongly tied to the culture of your home country you are until you move abroad and are faced with a culture—and possibly a language—that is markedly different than your own. You’ll definitely feel the change. The trick is to embrace it, instead of letting it get the best of you. Because whether you opted for moving to a new country because you wanted some adventure or because your job or something else brought you there, getting adjusted starts with leaning in to the experience and getting the most out of it that you can. Here’s how to do that.

Research the culture of your new country before you move

Just as if you were visiting a new country for vacation, you’ll want to learn about the norms and cultural expectations of the area before you arrive there. Understanding standards of behavior is important for getting acclimated, and it’s easier to know them before you go than to try and figure them out the hard way. Take the time to read up on cultural etiquette in your soon to be home and you’ll make the transition from tourist to local a lot easier on yourself.

Learn the language basics

If you’re moving to a country with a language you’re unfamiliar with, you don’t have to be fluent by the time you get there (it will be much easier to do that once you’re hearing and speaking it every day), but you should know the basics. Get comfortable with simple niceties like “hello” and “thank you,” as well as terms that will help you navigate around in the beginning. There are a lot of free language tools online that serve as great jumping off points.

Accept that you might feel homesick

Homesickness is perfectly normal after moving to a new country. Immersing yourself in a new culture and language can make you feel isolated in your own experiences or leave you longing for the comforts and familiarities of home. Don’t let homesickness keep you from enjoying your new home, though. Acknowledge it, but don’t dwell on it—it will be harder to acclimate if you spend your days Facetiming with your friends back home instead of getting out and meeting new ones.

Create a familiar and comforting space

Wherever you’re living, your home should be a sanctuary that you can come to for peace and comfort. This is especially true when you’re living somewhere unfamiliar. Take some extra steps to make your new house or apartment truly feel like home, adding in your own personality as well as things that remind you of what you left behind. Display pictures of your family and friends, stock your fridge and pantry with some familiar staples, and cozy up with the blanket you’ve had since you were a kid. You’ll always know that you have a place to relax that doesn’t feel quite so different and new.

Get out and explore

One of the very best parts of moving to a new country is getting to immerse yourself in an entirely different world than you’re used to. Making a point to explore and discover all that’s around you is both fun and a way to acclimate yourself to your new environment. So check out celebrated sites and attractions, and take lots of long, lingering walks, paying mind to the people and things that you see along the way. You’ll quickly learn the lay of the land, as well as what makes it so special.

Eat local delicacies

Food is comfort, which is why you’ll probably feel a tendency to want to stick to what you know after you move. But food is also culture, and one of the best ways to learn about your new country. Resist the pull of familiar recipes and chain restaurants and make an effort to eat like the locals. If you enjoy cooking, visit markets and stock up on unfamiliar ingredients that define the cuisine of your foreign home, then get creative in the kitchen. You don’t have to give up your longtime favorites entirely, but branch out and discover some new ones too.

Go out and socialize

Meeting people can be difficult no matter where you live, and it can feel extra intimidating after moving to a new country. Still, it’s a crucial part of adjusting to an unfamiliar environment. Meet your neighbors, seek out clubs and meet-ups, and start friendly conversations at places like parks and coffee shops. Sure it might be a little scary to do, but you’ll have a hard time getting acclimated if you’re feeling lonely. If it’s more comfortable, start off by joining some online communities and eventually suggest some physical get togethers.

Find a volunteer opportunity

Volunteering in your new country is a fantastic way to meet new people and learn more about the issues that matter there. It will also help you feel connected to your new community. If language is a barrier for you, consider volunteering to teach your native language at a school or community center. Or, just search online listings and local ads to see where help is needed. Everyone has something they can offer as a volunteer, and you’ll be surprised by how much you get back in return.

Adjust your routine

Every country has their own routines. Whether that means afternoon siestas, dinners that start at 10pm instead of 6pm, or entire days where the only expectation is to relax, you’re best off embracing the routine of your new home instead of fighting against it. No matter what you’re used to, go with the flow and adapt your schedule to the way the people around you live. It’s much easier to adjust your own routine than try to make it work in the confines of an area where it’s not the norm.

Set some goals

Think about the things that you’d like to achieve after moving to a new country, be it becoming fluent in the language, finding a job, finding a group of friends, etc. Then take active steps to achieve it. Working toward distinct goals will give your days purpose at a time when everything may seem so up in the air, and the goals themselves will help you become more a part of your surrounding community. Focus on goals that will serve you well in your new country, and always be sure to celebrate when you achieve them.

Don’t neglect your friends and family back home

While you don’t want to be checked out of your new home, you also don’t want to sever the important ties that exist in your previous one. Our connections keep us grounded, and it’s crucial to have a support system you can lean on—no matter where they live. Make a concerted effort to keep in touch long distance, a task made much easier in today’s digital age.

To expat or not to expat?

There’s some disagreement about whether or not there’s value in joining an expat community in your new country. On the one hand, it can feel good to surround yourself with people and things from your own culture. But it also holds you back from fully embracing all the novelty of what’s around you. It’s up to you whether you want to link yourself up with other expats, but if you do, just be sure you don’t completely shut yourself off from the local culture and environment you’ve moved into.

Moving to a new country—and with it, a strange new world—isn’t necessarily a simple adjustment, but it is an amazing opportunity. Whether you’ve made the move permanently or are just there temporarily, use it as an experience to learn and grow, opening up your mind to other ways of living. And when you feel sad, remember: your old home is just a plane ride away.