8 answers
Savreet
Student
Batala, Punjab, India
7
Questions
Asked
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How do you transition into a new culture/country?
I'm moving to Russia for school and want to know how to best transition and get used to the new culture.
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8 answers
Vamshee Gunturu
Principal Engineer
187
Answers
Chandler, Arizona
Updated
Vamshee’s Answer
Adapting to a new location within your own country can take some time, let alone moving to a completely new country and culture. This transition can present a few challenges, but also opens doors to exciting new experiences. Embrace these changes and adapt to your new surroundings, including the people and culture.
Before you make the move, it's a good idea to do some research about your new home. Look up the local culture, transportation options, colleges, and language. This will give you a head start and make the transition a bit smoother.
Remember, patience is key. It will take some time to fully adjust. If you can, try to learn the basics of the local language.
Don't be shy about asking for help. School counselors, college seniors, and other resources are there to assist you.
Check if there are any student groups in your college or town that could be helpful. Often, these groups can provide services like picking you up from the airport, helping you find initial accommodation, or assisting with local processes.
If this is your first time living away from family or your home country, it's normal to feel a bit homesick or lonely at first.
Try to build a support network of friends or fellow students. This can provide a safety net and make you feel more at home.
As for finances, it's safer not to carry a lot of cash or jewelry. Use credit cards or a bank for major purchases instead.
I hope these tips are helpful, and I wish you all the best in your new adventure!
Before you make the move, it's a good idea to do some research about your new home. Look up the local culture, transportation options, colleges, and language. This will give you a head start and make the transition a bit smoother.
Remember, patience is key. It will take some time to fully adjust. If you can, try to learn the basics of the local language.
Don't be shy about asking for help. School counselors, college seniors, and other resources are there to assist you.
Check if there are any student groups in your college or town that could be helpful. Often, these groups can provide services like picking you up from the airport, helping you find initial accommodation, or assisting with local processes.
If this is your first time living away from family or your home country, it's normal to feel a bit homesick or lonely at first.
Try to build a support network of friends or fellow students. This can provide a safety net and make you feel more at home.
As for finances, it's safer not to carry a lot of cash or jewelry. Use credit cards or a bank for major purchases instead.
I hope these tips are helpful, and I wish you all the best in your new adventure!
Camy (Anguilé) Feuer
Marketing
1
Answer
Miami, Florida
Updated
Camy’s Answer
Hello Savreet, what a thrilling period you're entering! Relocating might appear overwhelming and require some time to adjust, but it will plunge you into a fresh realm of development and possibilities. Here are some actionable steps:
1. Cultivate Relationships: One of the most effective methods to alleviate homesickness is to connect with people who make you feel at home. Start joining groups and online platforms that cater to expats, even before you move. Once you're there, actively seek to form bonds with the locals. Participate in local events to broaden your social circle and make new friends. Embrace opportunities and say YES as much as you can!
2. Understand Local Customs: Familiarize yourself with the social norms and etiquette of your new environment. This encompasses learning about local gestures, attire, greetings, and appropriate behavior in different situations.
3. Practice Patience: Adapting to a different culture is a process that takes time. Be gentle with yourself as you face and overcome new challenges and changes.
4. Keep Home Connections Alive: Maintain your ties with your own culture, family, and friends. Regular communication, celebrating holidays, and keeping up with traditions can provide a comforting sense of continuity.
1. Cultivate Relationships: One of the most effective methods to alleviate homesickness is to connect with people who make you feel at home. Start joining groups and online platforms that cater to expats, even before you move. Once you're there, actively seek to form bonds with the locals. Participate in local events to broaden your social circle and make new friends. Embrace opportunities and say YES as much as you can!
2. Understand Local Customs: Familiarize yourself with the social norms and etiquette of your new environment. This encompasses learning about local gestures, attire, greetings, and appropriate behavior in different situations.
3. Practice Patience: Adapting to a different culture is a process that takes time. Be gentle with yourself as you face and overcome new challenges and changes.
4. Keep Home Connections Alive: Maintain your ties with your own culture, family, and friends. Regular communication, celebrating holidays, and keeping up with traditions can provide a comforting sense of continuity.
Anushka Seshadri
Global Analyst - Talent Acquisition
3
Answers
Newcastle upon Tyne, England, United Kingdom
Updated
Anushka’s Answer
Speaking as someone who moved to the UK from India and has been living and working here for almost 4 years, the main piece of advice I can give is to not put pressure on yourself and just give yourself time to adapt. The first 6 months will not be easy as the homesickness will really start hitting around month 3 (this is just from my own personal experience and the experience of my peers). But with time as you form relationships and get acclimatised to the place, it will start to feel like home.
Take up hobbies to try and make new friends, the more you interact with people and form genuine friendships and connections, the easier life in a new country will be to navigate. Even just registering for classes or exploring new locations by yourself can be super helpful in making the place feel more like home - humans are creatures of habit, and these routines will be super beneficial! Really invest in your own mental and physical well-being, like journaling, exercising to keep yourself active, keeping in touch with family and friends back home.
Best of luck and enjoy the ride!
Take up hobbies to try and make new friends, the more you interact with people and form genuine friendships and connections, the easier life in a new country will be to navigate. Even just registering for classes or exploring new locations by yourself can be super helpful in making the place feel more like home - humans are creatures of habit, and these routines will be super beneficial! Really invest in your own mental and physical well-being, like journaling, exercising to keep yourself active, keeping in touch with family and friends back home.
Best of luck and enjoy the ride!
Jeff Gallucci
Cybersecurity, Compliance, Risk and Regulatory Project Management
7
Answers
Sammamish, Washington
Updated
Jeff’s Answer
I spoke to my colleague who moved to the U.S. from India, and here is what advice he gave me:
Adapting to a new culture will always present unique experiences. Here are a few things to keep in mind: maintain an open mindset, exercise patience, and remember that even though your accent may sound different, you're still speaking the same language and people will comprehend you.
Cultural norms can vary significantly. For example, in India, it's common for people to work late into the night, while in the U.S., my colleagues typically stick to a more structured schedule, often finishing their day earlier.
I suggest getting involved in community activities or groups, such as your children's school board. This is an excellent way to establish new connections. In the U.S., for instance, you'll likely interact with individuals from diverse global backgrounds, whereas in other countries, you might predominantly work with locals. Embrace and engage with the culture of your new home in every possible way.
Adapting to a new culture will always present unique experiences. Here are a few things to keep in mind: maintain an open mindset, exercise patience, and remember that even though your accent may sound different, you're still speaking the same language and people will comprehend you.
Cultural norms can vary significantly. For example, in India, it's common for people to work late into the night, while in the U.S., my colleagues typically stick to a more structured schedule, often finishing their day earlier.
I suggest getting involved in community activities or groups, such as your children's school board. This is an excellent way to establish new connections. In the U.S., for instance, you'll likely interact with individuals from diverse global backgrounds, whereas in other countries, you might predominantly work with locals. Embrace and engage with the culture of your new home in every possible way.
Mydhili B\
Principal Product Manager
2
Answers
Boston, Massachusetts
Updated
Mydhili’s Answer
Moving to a new country, leaving your loved ones behind, can be quite a challenge. It's even more so when you're expected to dive headfirst into education, a job, a business, or any new chapter of life that awaits you. From my personal experience of relocating to two distinct countries at three different life stages, I've realized the importance of maintaining an open mind. Rather than clinging to old habits, embrace the opportunity to try new things. The level of joy and satisfaction you derive from this extraordinary journey of relocating to a new country is largely determined by your willingness to be open and adaptable.
If you have friends in the new country, let them help you settle in. However, watch out for them becoming your social crutch! You are there to meet new people and indulge in the local culture and that can't fully happen if you stick to the familiar circles. Know that this will take time but as long as you try you'll eventually get there.
I've also found that people in the new country are generally as curious about me and my culture as I am about them. You will truly enjoy all the cultures by sharing your traditions and keeping an open mind to theirs.
Learn the language - More than just learning it over an app - I recommend taking a local class to learn the language. There is so much you'll learn about the nuances of the city/town you are in by going to live classes.
Mydhili recommends the following next steps:
Charly Rodriguez
DJ/producer
50
Answers
Miami, Florida
Updated
Charly’s Answer
Hi! good morning! Respect, understand and be empathetic with the foreign culture. Study and understand the traditions an ideology of that culture, and get used to it.
Andrew O'D
SEO
4
Answers
Updated
Andrew’s Answer
Culture shock upon arriving to live in a new country is common with everything being so new and overwhelming. This happens to everyone to some degree, so don't feel that you are alone. A great way to adapt more slowly is to make friends with others in a similar situation, but at the same time, make sure you are trying to meet and engage with as many locals as you can and put in the effort to find friends from where you are moving to. It will go a long way to feeling like a part of the community rather than just a visitor on an extended stay. A group of non-local or even home country friends helps to reduce homesickness slightly, but that group of local people you spend time with will help you acclimate more quickly. Have fun with it!
Arabhis Nicholson
Social Media Manager
10
Answers
Charlotte, North Carolina
Updated
Arabhis’s Answer
Hi Savreet!
Really great question. Transitioning to a new culture is not always easy but with a little research, curiosity and an open-mind, I know you’ll feel less like a tourist in no time.
Social Media and content platforms are your best resource when it comes to knowing more about different cultures. Start by going on youtube and looking at different people who have visited Russia, and get a first-hand perspective on what being in Russia is like for newcomers.
Next, I would connect with people who are living in Russia or are from Russia. We live is a social media age, so you have a lot of opportunities to speak to people from all over the world.
One thing though, be mindful and cautious, and make sure you do not share your personal information. Network and socialize online wisely. Safety is key!
Otherwise, have fun, and learn as much as you can!
Best wishes to you.
Really great question. Transitioning to a new culture is not always easy but with a little research, curiosity and an open-mind, I know you’ll feel less like a tourist in no time.
Social Media and content platforms are your best resource when it comes to knowing more about different cultures. Start by going on youtube and looking at different people who have visited Russia, and get a first-hand perspective on what being in Russia is like for newcomers.
Next, I would connect with people who are living in Russia or are from Russia. We live is a social media age, so you have a lot of opportunities to speak to people from all over the world.
One thing though, be mindful and cautious, and make sure you do not share your personal information. Network and socialize online wisely. Safety is key!
Otherwise, have fun, and learn as much as you can!
Best wishes to you.