Finding Belonging Abroad

Belonging is a journey, not a destination. It's a marathon, not a sprint.

Have you struggled with feeling like you belong when you immigrated?

While moving to a new country can be exciting, it comes with it's hurdles. One of the biggest challenges besides making friends is feeling like you don't belong.

Maybe because you don't look or sound like the locals. You are not familiar with the language. The workplace culture is different.

This can lead to feelings of isolation, low self-esteem, impostor syndrome.

Here are some things I wish I had practiced when I moved to the US and had to deal with feeling like I didn't belonged.

1. Be Patient with Yourself: Adjusting to a new country is a process, and it's okay to feel out of place initially. Be patient with yourself, give it time, and celebrate the small victories along the way.
2. Establish Routines: Establishing routines in your daily life can create a sense of stability. Whether it's a regular visit to a local café or a morning jog in a nearby park, routines help you feel more connected to your surroundings.
3. Stay Open-Minded: Embrace new experiences with an open mind. Be willing to try new foods, participate in local traditions, and adapt to different customs. A positive attitude can make a significant impact on your sense of belonging.
4. Find Expat Communities: Connect with other expats who have been through similar experiences. Expat communities often provide a support system, share valuable advice, and can help ease the transition. I couldn't find one, so after living in the US for 11 years, I founded my own community - The Expat Woman

Do you have anything to add? Let me know in the comments.

I will be discussing this topic of "Finding Belong Abroad" in this month's The Expat Woman Audio Show on Feb.15th at 9am PST with some of the speakers of our upcoming The Expat Woman Summit

Arlette Chatlein , Amy Amann , Daniela Draugelis , Navine Eldesouki , Megan Norton , Thais Silva, CPCC , Isabelle Peyrichoux, MS, PCC, CPCC , Charlotte Van Horn , Iliana Quinonez , Tanja Saarinen Chávez , Kerline F. Hilaire , Solveiga Jaskunas , Deema Ghata-Aura , Amélie Papin, Certified Professional Coach, CPQC??

No video, just audio, join us from anywhere on LinkedIn either on your phone or laptop.

Do join us for this audio event - RSVP HERE

Talking about The Expat Woman Summit, have you added your name to our waitlist?

The Expat Woman Virtual Summit, March 6th to March 8th.

Add your name to the waitlist and be the first to know when registration opens for a free ticket.

Join our event page on LinkedIn to see and connect with our speakers and other guests.

Meet our next sponsor of The Expat Woman Summit on March 2024,?Deema Ghata-Aura , Founder & Executive Coach Criterion Coaching .?

?She join us as the Friends of The Expat Woman Sponsor.

She is also a speaker at the summit.This summit to celebrate International Women's Day and Women Living Abroad, is free and so I am very appreciative of businesses, coaches or solopreneurs who come forward to support us with sponsorships for this summit.

Deema provides Executive Coaching services to expats and global leaders around the world. As an expert in Energy Leadership?? she helps her clients regain motivation, make big decisions and realize their full potential abroad with clarity and ease.

As the founder of Criterion Coaching and a Certified Professional Life Coach with a Masters in Education, she coaches diverse, multi-national clients to greater meaning and purpose in their professional and personal lives.

Originally from the UK, she’s been an expat for 17 years and has moved across three continents as an expat, repat and expat again. She is currently based in Dubai with her husband and two teenage children.

“Expat corporate life is full of unique challenges. It’s very much a marathon rather than a sprint and it’s easy to lose your way. I help my clients feel inspired and focused as they create impactful, fulfilling lives."

Connect with?Deema Ghata-Aura ?on LinkedIn and learn more about her work here .

Want to sponsor of our summit and get your business, service or product in front of our 10K network of women living abroad? Send us a DM or [email protected]

This week's EXPAT POST OF THE WEEK on LinkedIn is by Sindho (Cindy) Channa where she shares why she is a Friend of The Expat Woman Summit sponsor.

Here's why I'm proud to be involved:

1?? Championing Women: This summit celebrates the diverse experiences and achievements of women living abroad.

2?? Empowering Careers: My expertise as a Career Matchmaker aligns perfectly with the summit's focus on professional development for expat women.

3?? Building Community: It's an opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals and foster meaningful connections.

OTHER UPCOMING EVENTS

On our next episode of The Expat Woman Show, Nyna Caputi founder & CEO of The Expat Woman chats with Andrea Lauren Hunt about "Rebuilding your Life Abroad after Setbacks" on Feb. 13th at 9am PST.

Andrea is an American world-traveling transformational coach and EFT practitioner and the founder of Living Deliberately Today: personal empowerment coaching for a better life.

She is a published co-author of the book: Overcoming Self Sabotage: 11 Stories of How to Get Rid of Destructive Habits.

She was also a speaker at The Expat Woman Summit in Nov. 2023.She helps people rebuild after difficult life changes and step out of their comfort zones without stress, self-doubt, and overwhelm so they can master the art of living deliberately.

Using the clarity and power of coaching and the power of the Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), she helps clear negative emotional blocks to confidence, self-worth, and self-love that can hold us back and cause self-sabotage.

Andrea offers private and group sessions online, in-person and online workshops, and is also a co-working trip leader for digital nomads.

RSVP HERE

Happy Chinese New Year!

Check out this post with some photos from an event we hosted in Hong Kong for expat women.

Thank you for reading The Expat Woman Gazette.

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Warm regards,

Nyna

Founder and CEO of The Expat Woman

P.S. Missed last week's interview on The Expat Woman Show with Making Friends Abroad with Sarah Siegert ? Watch it here