Moving abroad can be one of the most exciting adventures you ever embark on, but let’s be real – it’s also incredibly overwhelming.
Leaving behind everything and everyone you know can feel beyond challenging, and you’re more than likely to find yourself yearning for the familiar.
While it can be tough to navigate, pushing through and overcoming those feelings is possible. Making yourself feel at home is an important part of learning to love the place you’re in.
Here are eight simple ways to feel more at home as an expat.
Secure the Essentials
Feeling safe and secure is really the foundation of being comfortable where you are. Prioritize finding a come where you feel safe and comfortable, and get settled into your job to find a sense of financial security.
Healthcare is another essential aspect of security. Try to familiarize yourself with the healthcare system and get the right insurance for expats, so you’ll have peace of mind in the event of any health emergencies.
These steps might seem basic, but they form the foundation of feeling at home in your new space.
Learn the Local Language
If you’ve moved to a country where you don’t speak the language, it’s easy to feel disconnected from everything and everyone around you. Taking the time to learn the language will take you a long way when it comes to slotting into your new environment.
There are loads of language learning apps and other free online resources that can help you reach your goal. Alternatively, consider enrolling in formal classes that will allow you to learn more in-depth, practice with other students, and even meet some new friends.
Build a Social Network
On that note, meeting people and finding your own little community is essential if you want to feel more at home in a new country. Moving abroad can be an incredibly isolating experience, and many expats feel alone for months or even years after they move.
Making an effort to find new friends can help crush this loneliness. Even introverted homebodies need connection! Join clubs, classes, or even group workouts to help you meet some like-minded people.
Embrace a New Culture
Feeling at home is, for the most part, a mindset. That’s why it’s important that you’re open to changing yours!
A different culture can feel strange, and you might resist the change, but being willing to embrace something new as part of the advantage will help make this journey feel much easier and more exciting. Learn about the culture, take part in new traditions and holidays, adapt to different social norms, ask questions, and be willing to try something new.
Stay Connected
While embracing the change and meeting new people is essential, staying connected to your roots is just as important. If you’ve left loved ones behind in your home country, keeping in touch with them and leaning on them for support can be incredibly helpful.
Keep in regular contact via email or text messages and schedule voice or video calls with those closest to you. This can help you feel a little less alone, and it will be exciting to share your expat journey with the people who know you best so they can cheer you on and help you through tough times.
Personalize Your Home
Sometimes, it takes a little change to our physical environment to make us feel more comfortable and like we belong. While interior design might not be your top priority after such a big move, it can make you feel less homesick.
Decorate and fill your space in a way that feels comforting and reassuring to you. Make your bedroom feel cozy and comfortable, and hang some family pictures on the wall. If you’ve brought any trinkets or memorabilia with you from home, display them on shelves and use your home décor and design as a way to stay connected to your roots.
Explore Your New Environment
Of course, with a big and exciting move like this, you won’t want to be spending all your time holed up in your apartment! Instead, grab the adventure with both hands and spend as much time as you can exploring.
Not only will this bring a sense of excitement to your journey, but it will also help to familiarize you with your new surroundings. You’ll find new coffee shops you love, start to visit them regularly, and fall in love with a park where you can take daily walks. Aside from these small joys, you can also experience all the beautiful sites and experiences your new country has to offer.
Stick to a Routine
Finally, don’t discount the comfort of a simple routine. As far as possible, try to stick to the way you did things back home, at least for a while.
Incorporating simple habits you’re used to – like waking up and making a coffee right away or starting your day with a yoga session – can help you feel a little less chaotic and disconnected from your own life.
