Working abroad or applying to study abroad is a great way of seeing the world without giving your bank manager a heart attack. But if you are settling in one place for a while, you’re going to want to make it feel like home.
I’ve spent time working in Vietnam and studying abroad in the USA, so I know a thing or two about settling into a new place.
Here are my top tips:
1. Sort Out Your Room
Being surrounded by blank white walls gets pretty depressing. Decorate and personalise your space with things that remind you of home; photos of family and friends, a few trinkets and that childhood teddy bear (you get the idea).
If you’ve packed light (like a good little backpacker) you could hit the local markets as a cheap way of sprucing up your place. Think incense sticks, throws/blankets for your bed, a map of the city/town and posters.
2. Be a Chatterbox
Get out and start talking to people. Even if you’re not competent in the official language of a place, you can make friends with other expats or international students in the same boat. Remember that you can always branch out and move in local circles later.
3. Familiarise Yourself
New cities can be intimidating. Start walking around, using landmarks to help you get a feel for your surroundings. When you pass them months later you’ll remember how unfamiliar you were in the first few days and be amazed. A great tip is to go grocery shopping: knowing that you can find somewhere to eat is comforting somehow.
4. Join the Community
Check café notice boards, listing magazines, newspapers and local websites. Find out what the community is doing and mingle with people at these events by asking them to go for a drink or a coffee.
5. Patience and Expectations
You won’t get that sense of familiarity after a few weeks, probably not even after a few months, so be enthusiastic, remain open-minded and explore everything. That’s half the fun, after all.
Have you ever lived abroad from a long period of time? How do you settle into a new place? Share your thoughts below…