There is no better way to expand your horizons and become a better human being than by living in a foreign country. While this is certainly going to be one of the most exciting times in your life, it will not always be easy. It will take some time to get used to the new cultures and customs. Here are five tips to help you fit into a new country.
Speak the Language
You are simply going to have a hard time fitting in another country if you do not speak the same language as the locals. Finding people that speak English may not be too difficult, but you will still be seen as a tourist. Spend your free time studying the language. It will not take long before you pick up some basic words and phrases. The locals will be patient with you if you are showing a willingness to learn the language.
Experience Local Culture
The whole point of living in a different country is to live like the locals. You need to immerse yourself in the culture by shopping and eating locally. There is no point in living somewhere new if you are just going to eat American fast food every day. Living like a local citizen will make you feel closer to the community. This will help it gradually start to feel more like home every day.
Make New Friends
Living in an exotic location can feel isolating. This feeling is only going to get worse unless you go out and make some new friends. Go out to the popular bars and restaurants to socialize with the locals. You can also try sparking up conversations with the neighbors. People are generally very welcoming throughout the world, so it should not be too hard to find a new friend. Expanding this friend group will be a breeze as you start to get more comfortable.
Call Back Home
It may sound counterintuitive, but you will never feel truly comfortable in a foreign country if you do not stay in touch with your friends and family back home. You are bound to get homesick after being far away for a long period of time. Calling home on a regular basis will calm these homesick feelings, which will allow you to live a happy life in your new location. If you find out a loved one needs some financial assistance on one of these calls back home, then you can also easily send money internationally through places like Western Union to help them out.
Don’t Rush Things
Your life is not going to instantly fall in place as soon as you arrive in your new location. It is going to take some time to acclimate to everything. It is important to not get too discouraged during this adjustment period. Life is going to be a little uncomfortable in the beginning, but you need to be patient. If you go about things the right way, then it will only be a matter of time before you feel at home.