I’ve been blessed to have the opportunity to live in three other countries, besides the US. The experiences have enriched my life in a whole kitten caboodle of ways. Although immersion happened rather naturally, the process was aided by some attention to building community and making an effort to explore and learn. Here are some ten ways to do just that:

1. Learn the language. This one project will help all aspects of everyday life. Ideally, we all would know the language before moving to a new country. However…that doesn’t always happen and didn’t really happen in my case. Even though I had had some 101 courses in French and German, for instance, I wasn’t comfortable in the language by any stretch of the imagination. However, I was able to take language classes once I went to live in Switzerland and Austria. These classes also provided some built in social contacts.  

2. Research the country’s history. Not only will this enhance your experience, but the locals will appreciate your efforts to learn about their country.

3. Reach out and talk to people. It doesn’t matter where you are; the majority of people want to connect. Put yourself out there and ask thoughtful questions. At the very least, people will be very curious about you when you’re abroad and will be excited to ask you questions.

4. Explore the city/town and region. As you acclimate to the new country, try exploring some new neighborhood or nearby town. Some of my favorite experiences in a new place have been renting a bike or taking a long hike around a nearby area of town. Roadtrips are also fun, especially with friends.

5. Pick some loyalties. Find some favorite restaurants, cafes, and/or bars; visit them frequently to meet the locals. (This is one of my favorite ways to feel part of the community.)

6. Join a group or class. Try joining a tango, yoga, or language class. See if you can join a neighborhood soccer team or find a language exchange opportunity (where someone wanting to learn English is willing to sit with you and exchange conversation so you can learn each other’s language.) If you’re into yoga or meditation, try joining Kungaroo  to see if there are other people in your area willing to practice yoga or meditation with you.

7. Volunteer. Volunteer your time in everything from esl to animal shelters. There are almost always opportunities to give back to the community.  

8. Start an initiative! Start a project in the community. When I lived in the Netherlands, I started a non-denominational children’s choir. Even though my Dutch skills were limited, it didn’t matter. About 12 kids and I met every Friday to learn folk and pop songs in a variety of languages. We even performed at a world peace day festival. The experience enriched my time in NL immensely!

9. Respect the culture. Every culture is beautifully different. Make an effort to understand that culture’s traditions, customs and idiosyncrasies. Some people will be warmly welcoming but will take a while to fully accept you into their circle (and vice versa!), which brings me to… 

10. Be patient. Take your time and enjoy the journey of learning a new place.

Also, since it’s Music Monday, I thought I’d share a song I’m digging right now, Coeur de Pirate “Comme des enfants”. Double bonus? The video loosely ties in some themes from the post.

 text/photos: Nancy Harder

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