Moving to a new country, especially after marrying someone from outside the U.S and going to their home country, can be an exciting and rewarding experience for both parents and children. But it’s important to prepare your kids for the inevitable culture shock they will feel when they first arrive, as well as how best to handle homesickness. These tips should help make the transition smoother for everyone!
Adjusting to a New Country – Tips for Families Living Abroad
-Talk about what you’ll do before you come: What will we eat? Where will we live? Will there be school or friends there too? It’s good to have these conversations with your kids BEFORE coming so that they know what is going on.
-Arrange a meeting with someone from the embassy in your home country: You may want to call ahead of time or set up a Skype appointment so that you can talk on the phone or a webcam. This is a good way to get more information on schooling, housing, jobs, etc… before you come here!
-Start learning about your new home country: Once you are ready to prepare for the trip itself, try to learn as much as possible about your new home country. You can read books, or visit the country’s embassy website.
-Prepare your kids for immersion: Once you arrive, there is no need to expect them to pick up the language quickly. While school classes will help with this, don’t be too frustrated if it takes longer than you expected. Learning a new language can be difficult and will likely involve lots of errors. Embrace their mistakes and don’t be too critical.
-Embrace the local culture: Living abroad should be an adventure, so make sure your children feel comfortable trying new things and embracing the local culture! Make international friends and attend international schools to help them adapt quickly.
Homesickness
Homesickness is common in the early days of living abroad, but there are ways to combat it. Here are a few tips:
-Talk to your friends and family back home regularly: This will help keep you connected to your loved ones and can make you feel less alone.
-Make an effort to meet new people and make friends in your new community: This can be difficult, but it’s important to try! The more social interactions you have, the less homesick you’ll feel.
-Plan regular trips back home: This can help relieve some of the homesickness and will allow you to reconnect with your loved ones in a familiar setting.
Culture Shock
Culture shock is a very real phenomenon that can affect anyone who moves to a new country. There are many different ways to deal with it, but here are some of the most effective tips:
-Talk about your feelings with others: It can be really helpful to talk to others who are experiencing the same thing. This will help you feel less alone and more understood.
-Make an effort to learn about the local culture: Trying to understand the local culture can help adjust to life in a new country. This doesn’t mean you have to agree with everything, but simply learning about the customs and norms can make things a bit easier.
-Embrace the adventure: Living in a new place is an adventure, so make sure your children and you enjoy it and see it as a positive thing!
-Prepare for homesickness: Don’t wait until your children are already experiencing homesickness, try to get them prepared beforehand. That way they’ll know what to expect and will be more equipped to deal with the feelings themselves.
Making the Transition Easier for Your Whole Family
There are many different ways to make the transition easier for your whole family. A wise thing to do is to talk about what you’ll do before you come. This will help everyone be on the same page and will avoid any surprises.
Key Points of Advice from Experienced Expat Parents
Although it can feel a bit daunting, you can always look to the wisdom of other fellow expatriates. Here are some really good pieces of advice:
-Use online messaging apps: Using apps like Skype will allow you to talk with family and friends in your home country so that they aren’t forgotten. This can also be a great way to keep in touch with school, work, and other activities.
-Make sure no one is isolated: Make efforts to ensure your whole family connects with the local community and that nobody feels excluded or isolated.
When a family moves to a new country, there are many different things to take into account. Homesickness and culture shock are common in the early days, but there are ways to combat them. Preparing for the move ahead of time can help make the transition easier for you and your whole family.
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