How to Survive Moving Abroad in the COVID Era?
Travelling restrictions, cancelled flights and quarantine almost all over the world. However, these obstacles don’t prevent people from travelling and moving if necessary. Companies still send people to different countries and precisely because of Corona people are forced to look for jobs in other parts of the world.
Remote working has become more and more common, but in many countries, people are already or still, working at the offices. Also, not everyone can or even want to work from home or remotely. Being able to work remotely is a luxury that is not available to everyone. It is also a significant risk for companies who deal with customers, money or different back offices. Sometimes, you need your secure VPN, Wi-Fi or firewalls to protect your products and people working in cafeterias is a nightmare.
For these and many other reasons, people are relocating even now when flights are scarce and borders closed. Finding your new home in a previously unknown country with no or few contacts can be frustrating. Bars or restaurants might not be open, people are social distancing, and on top of that, it’s always a bit hard to start in a new environment.
Usually, if you are young and move abroad to study at a university, it’s easier. Younger people, in general, are easier to adapt, and the universities offer many occasions and opportunities to meet other people. But now, many universities are online as well.
So, how can you make the best of your new country?
Let’s think about the most common problems people face when arriving;
- New language
English is not spoken everywhere or by everyone. In general, foreigners tend to stick with each other, and locals tend to have their own circles. This makes sense in many ways. Why would a local invest their time and energy to people who might leave at any time?
A new language can also be hard to learn, and it takes time. It also might affect how easily you find an apartment, get sorted all the immigration papers or find local information about doctors, hobbies, or restaurants.
2. You are alone
No matter if you move alone or with someone, many times there are moments when you feel isolated. During Corona, that feeling is even more real. It is way harder to integrate with your new location, people and events — because many things are cancelled, and people spend more time inside or with their families. How on Earth do you get to know people?!
3. Different culture
Different culture can always be hard to digest with or without Corona. Without Corona, it can be exciting, easy to understand after a while or create laughs. During Corona, it might be hard to understand ways of dealing with a state of emergency or how people behave or react to things like Corona mainly because interaction with locals is limited. Let’s say one comes from Brazil to Estonia. In Brazil, hospitals are full, people wearing masks and deaths, and new cases are high. In Estonia, you don’t see masks, hospitals are empty, and many people work in offices. Even when the situation was bad, people didn’t want to wear masks and people were enjoying sunny weather if there was one.
4. Missing the new experiences
When everything is closed, it’s hard to try new dishes, go to museums or try out that local dancing you were planning. You find yourself watching the same series from Netflix and eating the same pasta and ice cream as back home.
5. Blue days
Maybe the weather is very different from back home — too much wind, too cold, too hot, too humid. You don’t know how to dress when going outside. Maybe there are some cultural differences when it comes to clothing. Your apartment feels small and closed. What can you do in a new country without the safety net and knowledge of outside help offered?
Let’s break that down, shall we?
- New Language
YES! New language is a challenge. And in this day and time, it is easier than ever to learn a language. Take an online course — if possible, before you move to your future home country. Many people, Italians, Chinese, Swedish, Chileans, or Japanese appreciate if you can even say the easiest things in their native language. Learn ten words before you land. That is a small thing that you can even do on an aeroplane or the train on your way there. Learning those few words gives you a topic to talk about with locals. Maybe you find a tutor that becomes your friends.
Join a language class in person — a great way to meet other foreigners that fight the same battle. Use social media and find a language partner. Join language meetups. Use an app.
I can tell you. When you have your first simple conversation with a local, and they actually understand you, and you understand them, it’s the BEST feeling ever. After that, your next step is the Moon! Is it hard? Most definitely. Is it worth it? Absolutely. And it will be fun.
2. You are alone
Depending on your location, there will different types of restrictions. In some places, they are stricter, and in other locations, you barely notice them. As a new ex-pat, I’m sure you’ll notice even the minor ones because they make your life a bit more challenging.
Remember, no one will come and knock on your door and tell you that they want to be your friend. You need to take the first steps. Take a walk and start getting to know your neighbourhood. Talk to your neighbours, shop clerks, taxi drivers. If talking to strangers is hard, like it is for most of us, use social media. Find local ex-pat groups, local hobby groups, such as dog lovers, foodies or hiking groups and start talking to those people. Find events with ex-pats on Facebook or take a local newspaper and translate the events with text reading app and join those events; Saturday markets, dog shows, or running clubs. It would be best if you made an effort to find them.
And one more tip that my sister gave to me on my first day of University; smile. It might be a shy or scared smile, but it’s a smile and people like other people who smile. It will take you a long way, and you won’t be alone much longer.
3. Different Culture
The exciting new culture was the thing you were waiting for, right? But when actually living in that culture during COVID era it feels weird, cold or even too much.
Myself, being in a bicultural relationship, I found the best support from this amazing book. A woman from my home country wrote the book, and it explains the people, habits and culture of my partner’s home country. Why it’s better for me this way? Because someone explains unfamiliar things for me with my words and reasonings or explanations that I can understand.
When I moved to the country I live in now, I felt like an outsider a long time, but I noticed that watching TV, listening to a radio and just reading newspaper helps. Don’t worry, if you are not familiar with the language. Good TV, radio and articles (photos) don’t need language. You will start learning these new faces, gestures, tones and music, and that will help you. The best thing is, of course, if you can connect with some locals. Maybe from your work, hobbies, or your building. Maybe social media.
4. New Experiences
If you are unlucky enough to move to a place that is under a lock-down or similar situation, don’t worry. There are many things you can do.
Open your door and start walking, cycling or driving a car or take a bus or train. Take your face mask hand sanitizer and gloves and get comfortable. Get your free tourist map with attractions or buy or get a travel book from a library. Find out what are the best things to see in your new hometown. It might be the Eiffel tower or a local hiking route. In every place, I repeat, in every single place, there is something to see. Believe me. I come from an insignificant place, and even there are many, many things to see.
When you are done with that, start doing something. Maybe it’s cross country skiing, swimming in geyser, baking apple tart or whale watching. Learn, what is typical in that place.
Use a cookbook or online recipes and learn to make local dishes. Watch local films. Go outside with your camera and ask someone to take a picture of you. Offer them some hand sanitizer.
Go to any open place; cafeteria, market, grocery store and ask recommendations.
And again, depending on the place you are at; join some groups to do stuff. Or even better, make an event yourself and post it on some group or newspaper! Just make sure that you follow the local COVID guidelines when it comes to group sizes or mask recommendations.
5. Blue Days
Who hasn’t felt blue during Corona? I know I have. Not seeing my sister for over a year, trying to plan my wedding that already got postponed once and not being able to start a new language course or just the fact that I am sometimes scared of Corona makes me sad.
When you are alone in a new country and don’t have that safety net yet, you must keep in touch with your safety net back home. Call, text, send photos or even a letter. How much fun is it nowadays to receive an actual letter? Make a video for your friends, organize a group call with your family. Contact a friend you haven’t spoken since middle school and make a lame excuse and talk with them.
If you are facing some more serious times and you feel that you need professional help, ask advice from your workplace. Maybe you have a People team who can help? Ask in an ex-pat Facebook group. Ask advice from a hospital. Most hospitals even answer emails, or they have chats if you feel like you don’t have a common language, and you want to use a translator to write a message. Do not think that there are no options. People during Corona are more willing to help and do many things to provide support. We are all together in this. Remember that. You are not alone.