Top 10 Tips for Expats: How to Thrive
Global Transition Coach
Whether this is your first international move, or like me, your seventh, I guarantee that you know everything you need to know to make your experience a success, even if you don’t believe it right now.
I certainly found this to be true during my first overseas stint in the Middle East during my junior year in college. The summer before my classes began, I enrolled in an intensive language program.
My new classmates “helped,” me so much by speaking English that I ended up failing two of my four required courses the first semester! Unlike my other classes, these two were not accompanied by an English textbook. I allowed my classmates to determine our language of communication because it was easier to let them take control than to fight.
The problem lay in the language barrier. I decided the first step was to refuse to speak English from that point forward. I put aside my fear of making mistakes or offending or inconveniencing others. “If you want to buy an airline ticket to the States, I’d be happy to speak English with you,” was the snarky line I used if anyone tried to speak English with me.
Recall a time when you were new to an environment, be it university, a work place or a previous foreign country, and you managed to transition successfully, or unsuccessfully for that matter. Keep in mind that success often follows failure, and we can learn from both. Ask yourself these questions:
What did you do (or not do) which made your transition a success or failure?
How can you apply those lessons to your current environment?
We are all unique. Each of us has different talents, experiences and values. We all want different things out of life. For me, I love living overseas. Change makes me feel alive.
Most people resist change, and that is perfectly natural. With every move, not only does our environment change, our roles change as well (at home, in our marriage, in the new community and in our careers).
Below are my top 10 tips that I’d like to share with you in the hope that you find them useful.
10 Tips to Thrive
Know Your Superpowers
Identify your strengths, skills and talents and share them with your new communities. One of my strong suits is that I naturally see others abilities rather than disabilities. I see the positives rather than the negatives. When I share such views with others, I feel a deep sense of fulfillment.
"What are your superpowers and how can you share them with your new community?"
Adjust Your Expectations
We’ve all gone to our host country’s local post office or bank, myself included, and wanted to pull our hair out because things weren’t done the way we expected them to be. By understanding the local culture and customs, we can better understand how our new community functions and adjust our expectations.
"How have you adjusted your expectations to accentuate all the positives that your new home has to offer?"
Check your Perspective
While it can be helpful to create awareness about the differences between your home country and your host country, or your life before and your life now, choose to come from the perspective of honoring both, rather than insulting the other. Picture a backpack filled with all your bitter comparisons and then dump it.
"How are you focusing on what you’re gaining in your new home? How can you find the opportunity in every challenge?"
Share Versus Compare
When you find yourself among the expat community or back home visiting a friend, it’s completely natural to compare yourself to them. We use this data as a barometer by which to measure our successes, since we share a common lifestyle or history.
When you compare yourself to others, does it make you feel good? If yes then move on to the next tip! However, if you said no, I welcome you to share rather than compare. The truth of the matter is that you are comparing apples and oranges.
"Instead, why not ask yourself how your journey has been special?"
Learn the Language and Culture
We are all busy with a career, family or both. I’m not saying you need to become a native speaker, rather try and carve out some time to get to know where you are. By learning the local language, even if it’s just some common phrases, it shows the local community that you want to get to know them.
"If you were in your hometown and met an expat who just moved next door, what would your expectations be of them?"
Make Local Friends
Having local friends can be a complete game-changer when living a life overseas. These friendships give you access to things foreigners wouldn’t necessarily be able to do and can greatly improve your perspective and help you build a network and support system.
"What venues do you have access to (child’s school, charity organization, gym, shops) where you can connect with locals in your area?"
Know your Values
Values are the principles that you live by; the things that make you tick. You can’t check off a value like you can a goal. Values can not only assist you in decision-making, but can also increase your motivation and buy-in by bringing into a situation or task.
"What are your values? Are you spending your time in accordance with them?"
Create a Plan
If you don’t know where you are going, any road will get you there! Create a plan to get you where you want to go. Let your values guide how you spend your time and make a plan so that you are spending your time doing those things.
"When your time in your host country comes to an end, what do you want to have accomplished?"
Get Out of your Comfort Zone
When we dare to push ourselves outside our comfort zone, fear starts to surface. Usually that inner voice says, “wait a minute, don’t do that, they will say no, you’ll be rejected, stay playing small. You’re safe here.” By stretching yourself and doing things you normally wouldn’t or that make you uncomfortable, you open up yourself to cross-cultural experiences, growth and new friendships.
"In what ways are you stretching yourself outside of your comfort zone?"
Empower Yourself
As a newly arrived expat, your first encounter with your new community likely involves the question “What do you do?” or “Why are you living here?” If either elicits a befuddled and angst-ridden response on your end, you may want to take some time to explore what’s coming up.
"What is your story? What do you want others to know about you to give them a sense of who you really are?"
Found this valuable?
Help others discover these insights! Share this article with your network.
Whether this is your first international move, or like me, your seventh, I guarantee that you know everything you need to know to do more than just survive.