4 years ago i decided that i want to go to London to study English abroad. but i was only 15 then and going by my self away from my family is something hard to do. so my parents decided its a good idea to live with a host family. a host family is a family that live there and host students for a while to help them learn more about the culture and learn the language more also cook food for them and take care of them. so i lived with a British family for 2 months. You can make new friends, see new places and immerse yourself thoroughly in a new culture complete with local languages and slang, foods, customs, music, books and even television programmes! But when it all goes wrong, living abroad with a family can be horrid. To make sure that you're host family experience falls into the former, follow the three C's of living abroad with a host family: Communication, Cleanliness and Caring. .. i had a great experiance then and learned alot and i can trully say living with a host family is a must for someone that just started living abroad.
Monday, October 19, 2009
Expat Advice: City Review of saginaw
What is the name of the city or town that you are reporting on?
saginaw , MI
How long have you lived there?
since dec 08
What activities, clubs and organizations would you recommend to newcomers to help them meet others?
mienbergs pub
In terms of religious, racial, economic and cultural diversity, are the people of this city or town diverse? Are they accepting of differences? Describe.
most of them are.
What are the main industries in this city? What types of career opportunities commonly exist? How do most people find new jobs?
from what i know , jobs in SVSU the university where i study people can get jobs easily in it without needing a social security number, other than that jobs in the mall sometimes available but social security number is a requirement in most jobs
If a friend of yours was thinking of moving to this city or town from far away, what other advice would you give them.
Dont do it if you dont like small towns and not used to cold weather. other than that its a nice town to live in.
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
How to adjust to living in a foreign country
Moving abroad can be a life-changing event. Here are some tips to ensure that you become acclimatised as quickly as possible.
Moving to a new country is a big step at any age, particularly if the culture and/or language of the country in question is very different from your own. However, there are a number of things that you can do to ensure that you get the best of your time in your host country.
Prepare in advance
Even if you are moving abroad for work purposes and expect to have all the moving and settling in done for you, it is still important to spend some time beforehand reading up on the host country. Of course, reading is not the same as experiencing first-hand, but you will at least have some idea of what to expect. This is particularly important if you are moving to a country where the religion is alien to you - you will want to know, for example, if there are any 'rules' on what women should wear or if there are any customs that you will be expected to follow. And if you have to find your own accommodation on arrival, you will want to research prices, locations and any regulations you need to follow.
Learn the language
If the language in your host country is different from your own, then you will want to put some time towards learning at least the basics - please, thank you, hello and how to ask for directions. Ideally, you should begin before arriving at your new destination; if not, then on arrival arrange for a language tutor, even if it is just for a few weeks. You may not feel that you want or need to speak the language fluently, but putting some effort towards speaking the basics will stand you in good stead, make you that little bit more independent and hopefully will create some goodwill with the locals.
Mix with the locals
If moving to a country where everything is very alien - perhaps the locals are of a different race, speak a different language and practice very different customs - it can be very tempting to withdraw, mixing only with people of your own race. Try to avoid this. If your language skills are poor, consider arranging a language exchange, or advertising for a local person who speaks your language. Spend time in local cafes and restaurants; you will learn a lot about your host country just by watching and it will help you to adjust to your new surroundings. And you will probably get to try some delicious new food in the process.
Do what the locals do
Find out how the local people entertain themselves. In some countries, parks are a highlight of their social life; in China, for example, wandering around a park in the early morning will give you the opportunity to see people practicing tai chi, singing opera and ballroom dancing. You may even be able to join in, making some new friends in the process. It can be hard at times, especially if you stand out because of skin or hair colour and build and you don't like being stared at, but don't be tempted to retaliate because you think someone is being rude - the chances are, they are just interested, so try to ensure that they are left with a good impression of you.
Travel
Travelling in a foreign country, especially if you are on your own, can be a daunting prospect. However, this will enable you to learn about different aspects of your host country's culture. If you are living in a city, for example, you will find that life in the countryside is very different. Best of all, when you return to your new home, it will hopefully feel as though you are returning home, which will reinforce your feelings of having readjusted and settled into your new life.
Have some friends from your own culture
Some people are tempted to throw themselves whole-heartedly into their new culture, make friends with local people and avoid those from your own country and culture. However, it is important to have some friends who are of a similar background to yourself. Exploring your new country with someone else can be very rewarding; plus they understand what you are going through and can offer a support mechanism. At times, you may find yourself frustrated because of the language and cultural differences and a friend who speaks your language will be very welcome.
Stay in touch with home
Last but not least, you are likely to suffer from some homesickness at some point, especially in your first weeks. Stay in touch with your friends and family back home so that you don't lose the connection. And after a few months, you may want to consider going home for a holiday. But try not to travel backwards and forwards too regularly - it can be very disruptive to your new routine and you may find yourself unable to settle properly in either your host or home country.
Most of these tips are common sense. Nevertheless, it is amazing how many people move to a new country, and, either through fear of the new or just plain ignorance, don't settle or immerse themselves in people and places from their own culture, never learning the local language or having more than the most cursory of contact with local people. This is a great shame because they are missing out on a great learning opportunity; one that they may regret at a later point.
Coming Home After Living Abroad
Dealing with Culture Shock and Readjusting to Life in Your Country
Returning to your home country after living abroad can be difficult. While it is great to see all of the people you care about again, there is still culture shock to deal with. Not to mention the fact that most of your family and friends, despite their genuine interest in your experience, probably do not understand what it was like in whatever country you just returned from.
Here is some advice on dealing with the emotional time after returning from an extended stay abroad.
Tips for Keeping the Other Country in Your Life
- Find someone to talk to who is from the country you've just gotten back from. If the language of the other country is not your native language, you can at least try to find someone to speak that language with.
- Chat with someone else who lived abroad, somewhere different from where you were, and compare experiences.
- Don't lose touch with people overseas – write letters, send postcards from your home country, chat with them on Skype, or send emails.
- Try to incorporate aspects of the culture and/or lifestyle you just left into your everyday life. For example, if you rode a bike everywhere abroad, use one in your home country.
Tips for Readjusting to Being at Home and Appreciating Where Your Are
- Do something fun, be it going to a sporting event, your favorite restaurant, a cool museum, the beach you've spent several summers on, that you can only do in your home country.
- Get involved with some sort of activity you love in your community...especially if you are still in the process of finding a job.
- Invite friends over who you haven't seen in a while; work on reconnecting with people.
- Visit relatives, be they nearby or in another part of the country.
- Go to a town, city, landmark, etc. that you've never been to before.
- Read a book about culture shock when returning home after living abroad, such as Bill Bryson's I'm a Stranger Here Myself: Notes on Returning to America After 20 Years Away (Broadway Books, 1999).
Any of the above suggestions can help you appreciate the fact that you now have two homes, a broader understanding of the world, a host of memorable experiences, and most importantly the opportunity to resume and build up a life for yourself in your home country. Time living abroad is a fantastic experience, and one of the best ways to readjust after returning is to achieve a balance between appreciating what you just left and appreciating where you are.
