Interview!

This week my old school friend, Leanne has answered my questions to let us know a little about her experience moving abroad. 

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I’m Leanne, I’m 27 and I come from Yorkshire. I graduated from the University of Leeds in 2007 with a degree in Political Studies. I currently live in Gliwice, which is a city in the South West of Poland. I have been teaching English since my arrival in January 2011.

Which countries did you move from and to and why?

I moved from England to Poland in January 2011. After years of wanting to experience living abroad, I finally applied for a job in Poland. I had never considered Poland as an option prior to applying, but it seemed like a good opportunity to try both teaching and living in a foreign country. Three weeks later, I arrived at a very cold Krakow airport (thinking ‘Why did I decide this would be a good idea?!’)

What kind of expectations did you have before you moved?

My knowledge of Poland was limited before I moved here, so I wasn’t sure what to expect in terms of the country. Although I was apprehensive at first, my initial contract was only for 5 months, so I was aware that if I hated it, at least it would be over quickly!

Despite these early worries, I was very excited to try something new. I expected to learn a lot about Polish people and culture. I also hoped I would be able to learn a little of the language, and meet some interesting people.

Did your new country live up to these expectations?

Yes. And much more. After arriving and having a two-week orientation in Krakow, I moved to Gliwice. From the first day, I felt at home. The people were very welcoming and friendly. The city is fantastic. The students were lovely, and were keen to teach me about Poland.

What was the best thing about moving?

The people I have met and the things I have done. Moving here opened up a lot of new things to me and I have tried to get involved with as many as possible.

What was the worst thing?

It can be frustrating living in a country and not having a good grasp of the language, although I have never had any real problems with communication. Small things can also be irritating – such as Post Office etiquette! However, I wouldn’t say there are any really bad things about moving. My experience has been extremely positive overall.

What has been your favourite experience since you moved?

My current location means it is easy and cheap to travel. So far, I have visited Ukraine, Germany, Slovakia, Austria and Czech Republic. I’d say my favourite experience was going to lunch one day with a friend and just deciding to go to Prague on a whim. An hour later we were packed and on the bus to the border.

What steps have you taken to accustom yourself to your new country?

I have started Polish lessons and am trying to study at home. It is a very difficult language to learn, but after a year of being completely baffled by the grammar, I am slowly starting to understand! Polish people are proud of their country and customs, and a lot of students and friends have taken me to visit the mountains, museums, lakes, castles and even a salt mine. They are very keen on sharing traditions, too (many of which revolve around food and alcohol). This has made it incredibly easy to settle in.

What tips would you give someone else thinking of moving abroad / to your country?

Do it! In my experience it has been the best thing I’ve ever done, and has given me a lot more confidence to just go out there and try different things. I have seen people move and decide that it wasn’t for them, but I think they all took something positive away from their experience. I also think that you get out what you put in. If you’re willing to make an effort to get to know the locals and the country, you will be rewarded. Talking more specifically about Poland, I would say that whatever preconceptions people have, they should leave them on the plane. It is a beautiful, interesting and very safe country. The people are some of the most welcoming and friendly I have ever met.

Thank you for taking the time to answer these questions!

Interview!

I'm still waiting for some responses from some of my interviewees.  In the meantime I thought I would give you my answers even though you may already have read about some of these things.

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

My name is Jenny.  I'm a 27 year old languages teacher.  I'm trying to learn new things and find lots of new adventures.

Which countries did you move from and to and why?

I moved from England to Germany to take up a two year contract teaching English and Spanish in a secondary school.  The main reason I found this job was that I was struggling to find a permanent teaching post in England despite the supposed lack of languages teachers.  Actually, it turned out for the best though as I love it here and am currently trying to extend my contract.

What kind of expectations did you have before you moved?

I had a relatively good idea of the school system as I had worked in a German school as a languages assistant for six months during my time at university.  I think I expected things to be easier than they were at first.  I thought Germans were very organised and that things go very smoothly here.  I also read a lot about German customs and got all panicky about things like not being allowed to wash clothes on a Sunday.  I also expected the way of life here to be healthier and greener.

Did your new country live up to these expectations?

In some ways.  The authorities here are very organised in many ways but one of the biggest struggles for me and for other friends moving here has been the amount of paperwork and red tape involved in anything.  For the first three weeks of my contract, I couldn't work as they wouldn't let me sign the contract until a piece of paper from the school I used to work at got sent through.  Of course, this meant I had no income and I'm still paying of debts that I built up getting here and getting settled.


A lot of the strange sounding customs are just guidelines rather than rules so I've never had problems with washing on weekends or such things.  Also, the health benefits are definitely true.  I sold my car after living here a year and now cycle more.  I find the cost of living cheaper and we eat more healthily in general.

What was the best thing about moving?

Where to start?  It's obviously been great for my languages skills and for the lifestyle as mentioned above.  I have a relatively secure job which I love and which allows a much better work life balance than I ever had in England.  The best thing was meeting my amazing boyfriend and setting up home with him, though.

What was the worst thing?

There have been several ups and downs but the worst thing for me is being away from friends and family.  We get back to England twice a year and often have friends and family to stay but I have missed out on things that I would have liked to have seen - my niece's christening and birthdays, my nephew's birth.  Thank goodness for Skype and cheap international calls and flights.

What has been your favourite experience since you moved?

Where to start?!  Being a teacher, my days are filled with good and bad experiences, some of my favourite experiences here have to be with the kids. I love going into new classes where I'm just the crazy English lady as they don't realise that I actually speak German and they make much more effort to practice their English.


Outside of school, my best experiences have mainly been with Nico, whether it's a long summer bike ride in the country here or being made to feel welcome in his family.


I think the best experiences on the whole for me here are those when I've been made to feel welcome and at home in some way as it compensates for some of the downsides mentioned above.

What steps have you taken to accustom yourself to your new country?

The language is obviously a huge one.  Despite having a degree in German, my level had definitely gone down in the years since I left uni.  When I first got here, I couldn't follow meetings at work for more than half an hour, now I follow the whole things and even actively take part!  Getting rid of the car and buying a bike was another huge change but another positive one.

What tips would you give someone else thinking of moving abroad / to your country?

First of all, have back up.  As I mentioned, I'm still paying off debts I built up in moving here.  I can't believe quite how naive I was to pack up my car and drive here with no flat lined up, no contacts here and no back up money.  It was difficult as I only found out I got the job a month before I had to go so I didn't have much time to save, but it would have made things much easier.


Secondly, as the others have said in previous weeks, the most important thing is to make the most of the experience.  Especially if you are there for a limited time.  Say yes to everything, make new friends wherever you can.  While at uni, I spent six months in Germany and four in Spain but crammed much more into the time in Spain as I was on Erasmus and met people through that and said yes to every night out, trip, sightseeing day...everything and they are some of my best memories.  That's part of the reason I'm trying to take on so many new things here, it leaves me with amazing memories of great experiences.


I hope I haven't bored you all today with old news! 

Interview!

Here is the second interview in our moving abroad series.  This week Rebekah is telling us how she has found her year abroad.  Thanks for sharing Rebekah!

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

My name is Rebekah, I’m 27 and I am English. I graduated as primary school teacher last summer and have spent the last year living and teaching in Paris.

Which countries did you move from and to and why?

I moved from England to France. In my degree studies, I specialised in MFL teaching and thought spending a year abroad would provide invaluable experiences and resources for my future teaching career.

I also just really wanted to experience life in another country!

What kind of expectations did you have before you moved?

I moved to Paris without knowing a single person, so my expectation was that it was going to be tough at first – particularly as a lot of the English have a huge stereotype of the French as rude and stand-offish (and I was moving to Paris; the capital of this preconception!).

Did your new country live up to these expectations?

Definitely not, I found almost all of the people I met to be very friendly and welcoming.

I think that the misconception is partly due to people not trying to learn/speak the language of the country that they are going to. I’ve overheard so many English/American people whilst I’ve been here who have been cross that some shop assistants/waiters hasn’t been able to speak any English! Almost all of the French people I have met whilst I’ve been here have been very interested in my language learning and they’ve been really willing to help me along (sometimes a bit too willing...it’s a bit embarrassing/disheartening when even the six year olds are correcting your grammar!).

What was the best thing about moving?

The best thing about moving was the challenge - the opportunity to force myself to be out of my ‘comfort zone’ and really push myself to speak and learn as much of the language as possible.

What was the worst thing?

Two months before I moved to Paris, I moved in with my long-term boyfriend, Dave, and so leaving my home and my newly-built life behind was definitely the worst thing.

That having been said, in the end it has definitely become one of the hidden benefits – as a couple we have grown closer than either of us could have ever imagined. So I guess my worst thing has become one of the most positive outcomes!

What has been your favourite experience since you moved?

Oh my goodness! Where to start! In terms of school experiences, I think the constantly hearing echoes of “Rebekah, Rebekah! Hello, how are you?” from my primary school children as I walk through the playground or around the school is definitely a favourite experience.

In terms of being in Paris in general, I think simply the opportunity to get to know such an amazing city. There’s always something going on here, something to do, something to see, somewhere to visit. I’ve been incredibly lucky to spend so much time here.

What steps have you taken to accustom yourself to your new country?

Learning the language! Definitely the major step I made to accustom myself. I arrived with bits of classroom French, quite a lot of travel French and some shaky conversational French – but you can’t really make friends and get to know people until you know enough language to hold up your end of a conversation/give your opinion on something.

What tips would you give someone else thinking of moving abroad / to your country?

My first is one of those predictable pieces of advice that are just so easy to disregard – but just don’t say no to ANYTHING when you first arrive. Even if you don’t think you’ll enjoy it. It’s surprising just how many experiences you would have quickly dismissed, through nervousness or otherwise, that actually end up being life-changing.

My second is definitely to try and stay positive. It’s not going to be easy 100% of the time, it’s not going to fun 100% of the time and (as Jenny has mentioned in her previous post) it can be lonely, even in Paris! But “c’est la vie” as they say and each experience, positive or negative, helps us to develop who we are. It’s easy to look at other people and think “well she/he are just finding it so easy” – but ask yourself honestly, when you’re finding it difficult, do you have a breakdown in public? Or do you put on a smile and wait until you’re home? So who’s to say that the person you are putting on the pedestal isn’t having lonely/disheartened moments in the privacy of their own home?

Is there anything else you would like to share?

I think I’d just like to say that if anyone is ever in two minds about making the leap and moving to another country, for however long or short a time, just do it! We only truly regret the things we didn’t do after all.

I’d also like to thank Jenny – her blog is so open, honest and thought-provoking. I stumbled across it after I’d been here about a month, and was feeling really homesick. It made me realise that there have been other people in the same boat and that the positives really do outweigh any negatives!

Thank you for taking the time to answer these questions!

Interview!

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!