You're living abroad and want to stay connected with your culture. How can you do it?

In my experience, I tend to stick to the same hobby group, believe it or not, in today’s world, people with same interests are connected regardless of the location.

Nowadays it′s so easy to stay connected with our own culture! Spend every other day a few minutes on the phone with some of your close people in your home country. Exchange on social media to stay in touch with others who are still living in your country and last but not least join Pilates, Yoga or other activites on the ground. You will be suprised to meet always new faces from your own culture abroad!

Finding like minded people can be a challenge when living abroad, especially if you don't know the language and are fresh of the plane. In my experience, volunteering in your new community about a cause you are passionate about is one of the BEST ways to find people who share a similar mindset and begin to build strong relationships. Once you start building relationships, people will WANT to learn about you--they key is not to force yourself into the spotlight as the new person. Be patient until it comes to you and your new friends will be excited to see and learn what you have to share.

This is an authentic way to connect with the culture and learn so much in a warm atmosphere of sharing times and memories with others.

I think staying connected with your own culture is easier than immersing yourself in the culture of the new country. It's very easy to keep up to date with current affairs online & with cultural topics on social media. But choosing to work & live abroad usually means being keen to experience a different way of life. Organising a language exchange, where people from the host country can improve their skills in your native language by talking to you and vice versa can help you make friends at the same time. You can also find local groups on social media on a hobby you enjoy, such as hiking, to make new friends. When you make new friends from your host country, you share your culture with them by cooking them traditional meals etc.

A tip that has worked for many clients: create a corner of your home that reminds you of your country, your loved ones and anything comforting from back home. You can always go there when you need motivation, energy, and the courage to keep following your expat dream??

From experience, having regular contact with friends or professional contacts using LinkedIn, Facebook, or Instagram, depending on the situation can help maintain connections in addition to sharing updates on how you are doing in the new country or culture. Regularly keeping in contact with periodic phone calls and more frequently using WhatsApp or messaging apps is also great. The main challenge is finding time to respond or chat due to the time zone differences.

I'd add that you can find a regular coffee shop/gym/restaurant in your neighborhood that you can visit frequently + befriend the locals. Then, use their insight to dive deeper into your new home. See if they have recommendations about things to do and places to go. Ultimately, it's the people that you meet and interact with that will change you the most and cause you to discover more--whether its an older lady giving you extra food, or a naked kid trying to rob you on the street, having a myriad of experiences will open doors and new ways of thinking and give you a new perspective of yourself and your new home.

I try to connect with local people to build a home away from home feeling and get to know a different culture. I'm living away in a different land so it's important to have that unique experience.

I find it fascinating to explore art and culture, and compare historical moments across different countries. This is an interesting way to understand the host country history and make connections with what was happening in our country of origin at that time. Reflecting, pondering and comparing how different cultures evolved and expressed themselves helps us make sense of what we are experiencing daily. It also bridges the two cultures allowing us to stay connected to our own culture.

Some professionals living abroad have created a YouTube channel, substack, or regular LinkedIn posts to express themselves and help others learn about living or working abroad. It's a great way to appropriately share stories, news or information that may not be known along with building new opportunities in the process.

My way of staying connected to my culture is also that I brought my culture with me. It's my job. I learned in Germany a new method and then moved to the UK to bring this fantastic experience to another country. That's why I stay in touch with my colleagues in Germany.

I went to the UK because I wanted to experience something new. I could have stayed in my home country if I didn't want to. Living here helped me a lot to elevate my English.

Once you decide to leave your home country, you must open your mind to all kinds of experiences, from tasting different types of bread to wearing specific clothing that is culturally significant in your chosen place. "To explore and to accept the new ways of living" should almost become a daily mantra for you. While it may be challenging, stepping out of your comfort zone will expand your mind in ways you never thought possible. Undoubtedly, it's the most effective way to evolve in this lifetime.

Your needs should ALWAYS come first; don't be afraid to advocate for yourself if you are sick, have dietary problems, and need help adjusting. If your employer is worth a damn he/she will recognize your efforts and empathize with your hardships, in addition to paying you on time and keeping their end of the employment contract. If he/she does not, take note of the red flag and begin to look for a way out.

While I was emptying a box from our last move, I started laughing and being annoyed at the same time about the amount of adaptors we carry from country to country. But reflecting at its use, I came up with a great metaphor which I call the Universal Adaptor. I now use it to help individuals and their families to reflect on what need to be present from both worlds/cultures in order to "function" in the new location. What are the ways we can connect the two cultures that enable us to let the energy flow = be plugged into the new culture without forgetting our identity and needs.

You've decided to live abroad, but now you're not feeling as fulfilled as you once did. Remember, returning home is often an option in most cases. However, if going back isn't feasible, it's time to shake things up in your current situation. Whether it's adopting a new routine, exploring fresh hobbies, or seeking out a different career path, it's crucial to actively engage in shaping your life. Avoid falling into the trap of living on autopilot – this advice applies to expatriates and those who have never left their hometown. Embracing change and taking proactive steps towards personal fulfillment is vital for a fulfilling life, regardless of where you call home.

I work with expats and one of their recurrent challenges is to stay in touch with people back home while creating a new home in their host country. Some moments we will need to prioritize to meet new people, some others, to connect with the friends and family back who know us more than anyone. Many expats make the mistake of focusing only on just one, and that creates anxiety and the fear of loss (of the ones who stayed in our home country, or the missing opportunities in the new country) The balance can be reached if we look inside of us and give room to difficult emotions. That's the only way to prioritize ourselves and our needs. And remain connected with what matters to us.