While
living in a foreign country sounds exciting and romantic, it does have a catch.
When expats tread on unfamiliar ground, they tend to stick to what is familiar.
Thus, many expatriates never make the transition from expat to compatriot.
After all, becoming a part of the local culture is probably the hardest part of
life abroad.
It
is tempting to share your experiences of living in a foreign country
exclusively with other expats. Nobody else will understand your hesitation to
try the local food, your problems with adjusting to the pace of life and your
ambivalence towards social customs as well as those who are in the same boat.
From Expat to Compatriot
However,
in order to get the most out of your expat experience, you need to break out of
your comfortable little cocoon after a while and try to immerse yourself in the
local culture.
If you let go of false impressions and stereotypes, then you have already taken
the first major step. Living in a foreign country can then become a truly
life-altering experience.
It
is not as easy as it seems to adjust to life abroad. The process of making the
transition from living like an expat to a more local life-style takes time. Culture shock is part and parcel of
living abroad and hits all of us eventually. The trick is not to let it get the
better of you. After all, it takes some time for all international travelers
and expats to get used to their new environment.
The Charm Wears Off
For
most people who live in a foreign country, many aspects of the local culture
seem strange at best. This might appear exciting at first. The initial reason
for moving abroad is after all often the wish to explore foreign cultures.
However,
after living in a foreign country for a while, little things that you initially
considered charming may begin to annoy you. You will remember how everything
ran on schedule back home, how clean your former hometown was, or how much more
relaxed and friendly everyone seemed.
Embrace the Little Quirks
Everybody
who decides on living in a foreign country needs some time to adjust to their
new environment. Lina (32) felt that way when she moved from Sweden to Ecuador.
Everything seemed different from her home town Gothenborg, and after the burst
of initial excitement, those differences started to get to her. However, after
a while, she began to accept that things were simply not the same in Quito.
Until
you get to this point, try to be respectful, patient, and humble. After all,
you are a guest living in a foreign country, at least until you have made the
transition from expat to compatriot.
