A guide to living abroad from a nomad

To many, hopping around and living abroad might look cool and fun, but adapting to novel environment, new workplace and different school system can be overwhelming. Having received formal schooling in China, Singapore, US, and now the UK, I have developed a mechanism to beat cultural shocks and quickly get rooted in new environments. Striking a balance between the new and the old is an art that needs practice. So here are some essential tips I want to share as a nomad for the wandering souls.

1. It is okay to feel lonely, homesick, overwhelmed or lost.

Give yourself some time to adjust to the foreign.

Though I have always been on the move and away from home since 15, I still leave every place I have grown attached to with a heavy heart, but the time I need to acclimatize has shortened dramatically. The more I move, the more confident I feel. I know that my anxiety and sadness will soon be washed away as my own experience has attested me that. I know that each new place is just as amazing, for it all depends on how I make my own experience.

And after that period of reluctance to leave the old, venture out and consume yourself with new people and new things. Go to local events, explore new places by walking around, and familiarize yourself with key locations like supermarkets, clinics and train stations. Meetup is really a good place to integrate into the local scene. From local Toastmaster meeting to philosophy cafe, I not only built up my network of local friends but had lots of fun.

Hit the road on weekends. After all, you go to another place not to see the familiar but to discover new things.

It is okay that you don’t like the differences, be it the gloomy weather, the confusing transport, or the weird accent, but the willingness to put yourself there and experience differences is essential. The realization of what is truly dear to you is invaluable.

2. Always maintain the old connections

Despite the excitement of the new, I find that a sense of being anchored with the familiar offers some security and comfort in the flux of changes. While personally, I can’t identify any place I fully belong, family and old friends are always my safest harbors, both literally and metaphorically.

Thanks to technology, it has become much easier to stay in touch and get some emotional support. I remember the time when I stayed with a religious tribe, I was overwhelmed by the rituals they practiced and the values that I could not identify myself with. As there was no Internet connection in their residence, I found Wifi at the local cafe shop and talked to my best friend, who helped me keep sane and encouraged me to dive in. By the end of my stay, I was grateful that I didn’t close myself up and had used the opportunity to better understand a radically different culture.

While it is true that not being physically together might make it harder to catch up, having lived through something new and different can generate more interesting topics than just recounting old memories. It feels like living another life by exchanging things and stories collected during traveling.

It can also be handy to bring some old photos and carry your school hoodies (but never overpack) that remind you home. It is also interesting to see cultures you have known adapt in new light, like the popular General Tsao’s chicken in US, which is non-existent back in China, and how Europeans I met marveled at the fact that I studied in New York (State), which is the most exciting place in their fantasies.

3. Go to local supermarkets or markets

I single out this because I find it so far the best way to feel the pulse of a new place and see an authentic way of life.

Going to the local Tesco and Sainsbury to buy groceries always makes me feel that I am part of here. It is also a great way to have a good taste of local culture — just by seeing what different products they offer — Scotch egg, Welsh cake, you name it.

At Borough market in London, locals rub shoulders with tourists for freshly-squeezed juice, grilled kebab and steaming soup. The hustle and bustle bring everyone together and celebrates the diversity that makes London so dynamic and fascinating.

And the extra perk is finding things from home. At Tesco UK, I was delighted to find curry sauce and satay condiments I used to have back in Singapore. And in London, the authentic Mac and Cheese at the Camden Market totally made my day.

4. Hang out with students from your home country.

Trust me, even the most tenuous links back at home can become the strongest bonds abroad. Even an American accent can generate a series of conversation among strangers and help find new friends. A bonus is that people from your home country can offer you insider tips, like where to get the best bargain and the most authentic food. Finding local support groups or cultural associations can not only help you engage in local issues but also help you alleviate homesickness. But never overdose that trust simply because of nationalities.