Most expats don´t expect to get emotionally effected that strongly by the sudden change of living environment. I was one of them. By now I think it is realistic to expect that at one point you will feel sad, lost, and/or lonely. Prior to your departure, you can think of how to minimize these emotional down times. Consider the following 6 tips to get emotionally prepared and reduce the emotional shock at your new host country.

Tip #1 – Getting to know the culture

Cross cultural understanding is fundamental for a successful expatriate experience. It will help you to resolve daily life issues and personal conflicts in your mind. You can inform yourself on beforehand to get to know the culture you soon will be immersed by. Use the Internet and talk to other expatriates about their experiences in your host country. Look into issues such as customs and traditions, religion, food, ways of expressing and clothing, traffic and transportation, etc. Try to gather as much background information as you can in order to develop a good understanding of your destination´s culture.

If possible, visit the country you are planning to live. Short visits won´t give you the opportunity to experience the real daily life. Nevertheless, going there does give you a great chance to have a first impression of the culture. Continue Reading »