There are a lot of things that people just won’t tell you when you first go into a new country. It’s just things that you’re going to have to experience for yourself. While yes, it can be scary, because it’s a totally new environment, at the same time, moving to a new country is an adventure filled with excitement, discovery, and inevitable challenges.
But of course, one of the toughest challenges can be battling homesickness and the feeling of being an outsider in a foreign land. In a way, it can be painful, it’s scary, and there’s that looming feeling of not being fully welcomed.
While you can’t completely replicate the comfort of your home country, there are several ways to cultivate a sense of familiarity and warmth in your new surroundings. While yes, it’s good to experience your new home and the cultures there, it’s nice to have that sense of belonging your old home provided. Here’s how to make your new environment feel more like home, ensuring a smoother and more enjoyable transition.
Your Home Needs to Feel Like You
You’ll want to start by making your new living space your own; that’s really going to be the only way this will work out. So, with that said, just go ahead and surround yourself with things that make you feel comfortable and happy. What makes you feel like you? What’s going to make you feel like you’re right at home?
For most people, this means having photos of family and friends, favourite books, or even a beloved throw blanket in their space. Again, this is meant to be a personal sanctuary. If possible, bring or buy items that remind you of your home, like artwork or decorations typical of your home country’s style.
Consider the Media You Consume
Sometimes, just scrolling through pictures of your home or watching shows or movies from back home can be more than enough. Nowadays, with VPNs and streaming platforms, you can basically watch whatever you want, and that immediately includes knowing where to watch F1 or other live events. But really, just consuming media that reminds you of home (what you’d watch at home) will really help you feel homely.
Just Keep Cooking Traditional Dishes
So, it’s not just about what you’re watching at home, but it’s also about what you’re eating too. So, when it comes to expat cooking, it can be hard; it can actually be really tough because ingredients you use at home just might not be available. Like others, you’ll either have to pay a bunch of money at an expat store or work with alternatives (not the same, but close enough). With all of that said, food is by far one of the best ways to connect with home, especially if you’re able to make it 100% accurate.
Maintain Some of the Traditions
One of the ways to keep your traditions alive is simply by celebrating holidays as you would at home, even if they aren’t widely recognised in your new country. And you know what? There’s nothing wrong with that either! You’ll still feel that comfort and sense of belonging, and of course, if you have family there with you, it’s going to feel way better.
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