If you’ve
ever lived abroad for any significant amount of time, chances are you’ve met an
embittered expat – somebody who just can’t find anything positive to say about
their host country. Although we all
arrive doe-eyed and full of excitement for our new home, our host country
inevitably takes an emotional toll on us.
How we cope with this emotional stress, however is up to us. And so, should you find yourself ever living
abroad for a stint, here are my recommendations to avoid becoming that sulking,
host-country hating expat.
1.
Realize that the host country’s culture is designed to make its citizens
comfortable, NOT you.
This one is
pretty simple, but often overlooked.
Some things the host country does are strange to you. Cool.
Recognize that your normal is not their normal, and that’s okay.
2. Research your destination!
I think we
all like the idea somewhat of throwing ourselves into a place we know nothing
about and experiencing everything anew.
It’s romantic notion, but life abroad rarely works out that way. Adjusting to a new normal is a painful
process, but it can be made easier if you understand the reasons behind why the
new normal exists. Plus, the more you
know about your host country before arriving, the less of a burden you become
to its citizens – something they’ll appreciate.
3. Invest in your host country
This is
probably the most important thing I’ve discovered since my move to Korea. Find ways to get involved and give back to
your host country. Join a club,
volunteer, host an event. Simply put,
give yourself a reason to not want to leave your host country.
4. Learn the language
This could
be combined with number 3, but it’s a bit more of an endeavor so I think it
deserves its own special mention. Korean
is a VERY difficult language, and I’m no means fluent, even though I’ve
dedicated hundreds of hours to studying it since my arrival. That being said, the limited Korean skill
that I do possess has made life infinitely easier and more normal for me. I feel like less of a shiny foreign object at
work and more like a regular staff member. I have access (albeit limited) to a large
portion of the population that either can’t or chooses not to speak English. Additionally, learning the language will
always get you respect from the host country.
Continuing my Korean studies is also probably the number one thing I was
looking forward to coming back to after my August vacation.
