settling into expat life

Settling Into Expat Life: How Not To Be A Tourist

Source: www.expatfocus.com

Moving to a new city/country“Moving to a new city can be difficult, but when you change country entirely, the prospect can be daunting. And the last thing you want to be is a tourist in your own home.”

2

Imag

e so

urce

www

.em

powh

er.c

om

http://www.expatfocus.com/



Traps at every turn

3

“Traps lie in wait at every turn, and while you might find many similarities between your old home and your new one, the differences may make you feel like an outsider.” Im

age

sour

ce w

ww.h

ccm

is.co

m




People watch

4

“Find a table in a cafe, sit yourself down on a park bench, or even find a spot in a busy train station, and just watch the world go by. People watching is rewarding in and of itself, but if you're new to a city, it's educational, too.”

Imag

e so

urce

7-th

emes

.com




Make local friends

5

“Local friends can help you get to know the city better, and get you away from the tourist traps even more quickly. They're also a great source of information about local customs, and good friends who will help you learn how to fit in.”

Imag

e so

urce

www

.bish

opm

artin

.lanc

s.sch

.uk




Ask questions

6

“There are all sorts of things long-term residents of your new home know about living in their city. Be curious. If you're not sure about something, don't be afraid to ask. ”

Imag

e so

urce

www

.succ

ess.c

om




Explore

7

“A good way to get yourself going is to set yourself a challenge to do new things. Go to a new place to eat every day. Find a different park. Go for a walk in the opposite direction. Get a bike and extend your reach even further.”

Imag

e so

urce

www

.fire

flybr

igad

e.or

g




Do your research

8

“While a travel guide might not be the best way to learn how to stay away from tourist attractions, it can give you some tips on local customs and getting around. The internet is also a great source of advice.”

Imag

e so

urce

www

.sigi

te.o

rg




Eat like a local

9

“A restaurant that looks familiar, with English names for dishes and a menu sporting all your favourites from home, might be tempting. But if you really want to step away from tourist life, you'll need to back away from those familiar signs and head somewhere else.”

Imag

e so

urce

www

.pin

tere

st.c

om




Adjust to the time zone

10

“Adjusting to a new time zone doesn't just mean setting your clock to the right time. Different places run on different hours, and if you want to be in sync with your new city, you'll need to adjust.”

Imag

e so

urce

cre

w.co




Show your friends your city

11

“If your friends come to town, show them your city. Take them on a tour through your favourite local haunts. Don't worry if they don't speak the language, it's the perfect opportunity for you to practice translation.”

Imag

e so

urce

www

.thel

ab3l

.com




Share your own culture

12

“Whether it’s Thanksgiving from America, an Italian Christmas feast, Swedish Midsummer or an Australian barbecue, sharing your own cultural traditions helps you bring a little slice of home with you.”

Imag

e so

urce

find

icons

.com




Be a tourist

13

“It may seem counterproductive, but most big tourist attractions have become popular for a reason, and exploring them in your own time when they are right on your doorstep is too good an opportunity to pass up.”

Imag

e so

urce

www

.cnn

.com



ThankYou

settling into expat life

Lifestyle