Gaining Independence

In a new country the simplest tasks become large obstacles as you navigate your way through local customs, ways of doing things, shopping setups, etc. Add to this a situation where you are unable to communicate and make yourself understood and you will feel rather helpless! I remember spending an entire day in search of hangers, and coming home feeling extremely frustrated at not being able to find something that would have taken 10 minutes in my home country. A feeling of powerlessness and vulnerability can develop as you struggle to cope and feel a loss of your independence and sense of capability.

It is important to regain your independence as quickly as possible and reach a stage where you feel confidence in handling day to day situations.

The single most successful way of doing this is to learn the language. If possible, join a language school before you go. Make sure you learn the basics of pronunciation, how to ask for things, and understanding directions. Do not be afraid to make mistakes, but rather speak the language (however much you feel you are wrecking the grammar) as this has been shown to increase language proficiency dramatically. Watch local TV programmes. Watching the expressions on the actor’s faces and the drama unfold will help you to understand what is being said. Start reading children’s books that you will be able to follow. Reading books with pictures may feel silly, but you’ll be able to understand more easily what you read and build your vocabulary quickly.

Do some background reading on the country to familiarise yourself with some of the administrative procedures that you will need to undertake, for example how to rent property, open a bank account, etc. Many websites now have excellent information for immigrants and expatriates. Try to also read up about cultural do’s and don’ts so that you can avoid the most obvious mistakes.

Ask your company if it is possible to link you up with someone who can show you around – where to shop, how much things cost, how to use public transport, etc; or ask another expatriate to help – they are a wealth of knowledge having been through the same experience themselves.