A while ago now, I received some feedback from an old school friend who has found my blog through facebook and found it helped her to settle in to her year abroad in Paris and get through the homesickness (yes, even in Paris, you can get homesick). I've been thinking a lot about her message and I thought maybe she wasn't the only one, and even if she is, here's a way I can hopefully help even more, by roping my friends into some interviews talking about how they have adapted to moving to a new country. Here is the first in (I hope) a series of interviews talking about actual experiences of moving abroad and some advice on how you can do it too.
This interview is with my good friend Loreto who has a lot of experience in living abroad and a wonderful outlook on life, indeed, she has helped me through my migration process.
Tell
us a little bit about yourself.
My
name is Loreto, I am Spanish, I lived in England for nine years where
I taught Spanish. Now I am living near Bremen, in Germany.
Which
countries did you move from and to and why?
I moved from England to
Germany following my husband, he is also a teacher.
What
kind of expectations did you have before you moved?
I thought that it
would be easier to get a job but the language is a barrier and I need
to learn it well before I find a job.
Did
your new country live up to these expectations?
No, I found easier
to adapt to England when I moved there. People were friendlier and
more welcoming.
What
was the best thing about moving?
The challenge of a new culture and
new friends.
What
was the worst thing?
Leaving behind my friends, my permanent job…
What
has been your favourite experience since you moved?
I have met very
good people and I have fantastic friends. Also I love the village
where we live.
What
steps have you taken to accustom yourself to your new country?
Learn
the language and try to find a job. Also I have tried to make German
friends.
What
tips would you give someone else thinking of moving abroad / to your
country?
To come with an open mind and try to look to the positive
side of things. Moving abroad is a very rewarding experience from
which you learn a lot. Try to learn the bases of the language before
you move to the country and get familiarized with the place before
you move permanently.
Is
there anything else you would like to share?
Yes, I have to thank my
English friend Jenny because she has been a great support to me.
Thanks to her I have not felt so lonely, at first you can feel quite
isolated from the world but we have been meeting every week for
coffees and a nice chat and that has meant the world to me!
Thank
you for taking the time to answer these questions!
Not
at all, my pleasure!
Well now I am blushing! I guess one piece of advice to take away from this is how important those social connections are. I was here a year before I met Loreto and the second year has been much easier than the first. I was lucky enough to meet her by coincidence. You really have to put yourself out there in order to meet new people and make connections in a new city but it is soooo worth it in the long run!
