Home 9 Relocation 9 How to cope with expat isolation

How to cope with expat isolation

by | Apr 14, 2022 16:47

When you have to start your life from scratch in a foreign country where you potentially know no one apart from your partner, where you are not familiar with the customs, where you don’t really know the location or even the neighborhood, there is a very real danger that you will end up feeling extremely isolated.

This is especially true for accompanying partners. Because whilst your partner is out at work all day and has focus and motivation from the outset in your new life abroad, you’re the one at home dealing with the isolation and the newness of it all by yourself. And you know what? This can be scary, upsetting, and of course, very lonely.

How to deal with isolation as an expat:

When you live somewhere familiar, ie home, there’s a lot you take for granted. Without even being aware of who they are or what role they play in your life the truth is there are so many familiar faces around you: whether it’s the person in the local petrol station or the shop attendants in the supermarket or the guy that walks his dog down your road – you may not know them but they’re familiar faces in a familiar place.

You’ve got experts in your life like your doctor, your personal trainer or your children’s teachers. If you’re at work you’ve got your colleagues. You’ve got your friends and your family but now, all in one magnificent swoop, they’ve all gone.

It might be in your previous life you treasured your alone time, but now, in your new life, you may have far too much time alone. You might feel isolated and a long way away from people. This can be especially poignant if there’s a big-time difference between you and home, or if you are somewhere where the culture is vastly different with a different language.

Being the accompanying partner, it’s important you learn to deal with isolation. It’s just something you have to be able to cope with for a while. Accept it’s going to be there for a stage, don’t let it get you down, and find ways to beat it.

Shop locally: go out and use the local stores, the local post office, the local dry cleaners, hairdressers, beauty salons, etc. You may decide that they’re not actually the best ones for you in the long term, but make an effort to visit them regularly at the beginning of your new life abroad and notice how these people become familiar faces; they’ll recognise you, and you’ll recognise them pretty quickly.

Likewise, join a local gym or a nearby yoga class. Again, it may not be the place you’ll stay but it will be somewhere other than the house that is familiar and the faces will become familiar too. By building up a familiar network of local faces, even in your shops, you’ll be amazed at how quickly you’ll start to feel ‘at home’ in your new location.

Get to know your way around your new town or city. Knowing your way around is one of the fastest and easiest ways to create a sense of familiarity or belonging. When you know your way around then life starts to feel more normal. You don’t get that bewildered, confused feeling each time you step out the door. You may still feel isolated but it will help take away that lost feeling.

You won’t necessarily be able to do things exactly the way you did them back home and the trick is not to let this defeat you. For example, you may want to hire a cleaner. At home, you would probably ask around the people you know to get a personal recommendation because you don’t really want a complete stranger in your house. But abroad, not knowing anyone to ask (another issue of isolation), you need to think outside of the box and come up with a different solution. For example, if you live in an apartment complex, put a little notice up by the mailboxes asking for recommendations. Or ask your work colleagues for recommendations. It may not be exactly what you would have done at home, but it’s just a different version of it.

Moving overseas forces you to take the initiative to get the most out of your new life. If you sit inside your new home on your own, don’t reach out, and don’t make things happen then I’m afraid isolation will stick around.

Accept that isolation might be a temporary phase but stay determined to beat it. Make an effort to explore your neighborhood, know your town and join some groups. You don’t have to make huge commitments, just take baby steps, and very quickly the place will feel more familiar and those feelings of isolation will fade.

Source: Expat Child – Carole Hallett Mobbs

Related Posts

Take the Leap as a Digital Nomad. Important things to consider

Take the Leap as a Digital Nomad. Important things to consider

What is a digital nomad? A digital nomad is a remote worker who performs their work from anywhere in the world, travelling on a regular basis to various countries. Anybody who has a remote-accessible internet job might be referred to by this word. Digital nomadism is...

5 things to consider before relocating abroad

5 things to consider before relocating abroad

If your professional goals seem to have changed, you have new interests, or you just want to make more money, relocating abroad could be a good option. However, changing careers or starting a new one can be significant challenges few people are willing to face. Yet,...

Digital Nomads – five reasons to consider hiring them

Digital Nomads – five reasons to consider hiring them

Digital nomads can be your new employees of the future. As the labour market continues to evolve, so do the types of employees that companies are looking for. In recent years, there has been a growing trend of digital nomads. Those working professionals who work...

Employee experience – how Global Mobility can enhance this

Employee experience – how Global Mobility can enhance this

The customer is king. This is what businesses have come to understand, whether they are running a small shop or a large company. However, in today’s fast-evolving business landscape, employees are taking centre stage as the backbone of any organization. Holding on to...

5 most common misconceptions about hiring foreign employees debunked!

5 most common misconceptions about hiring foreign employees debunked!

Are you prepared for the war on talent? Or are you at war already? We all know that the skill pool is limited, especially in some industries, and businesses are always competing for talent. Sometimes it's not only difficult but downright impossible to find talented...

4 amazing European countries for a 2023 relocation

4 amazing European countries for a 2023 relocation

It's the start of 2023 and you might be considering a relocation to one of the best countries in Europe. Whether you’re relocating for a job opportunity, higher salaries, or better living standards, considering various European countries is an important step in an...

Expatriate children. Main challenges of moving abroad

Expatriate children. Main challenges of moving abroad

Whether you are preparing to move abroad for work or have already made the relocation, one thing is certain. Parenting doesn't stop just because you changed countries. What's more, parenting becomes even more challenging when...

7 essential skills for a successful international assignment

7 essential skills for a successful international assignment

Is there a secret to having a successful international assignment? Housing, schools, work permits, employment visas, language barriers... With all the hassle and the challenges that come with an international relocation, is there a silver lining? Moving to a new...

Employers set to compensate pay discrepancies?

Employers set to compensate pay discrepancies?

Worker expectations push employers to address pay compression, survey finds Market conditions and worker expectations are driving employers to make addressing pay discrepancies one of their compensation goals, according to a Robert Half survey of 376 C-suite...

Motivated Sellers can get you a Home!

Motivated Sellers can get you a Home!

Home shoppers outnumber home sellers in many places. If you’re a home buyer, you need every competitive advantage you can get. That’s why it pays to know how to find motivated sellers and persuade them to choose you. The definition of “motivated seller” has changed...

Labour exploitation in the UK’s cleaning sector

Labour exploitation in the UK’s cleaning sector

Over the past months, Focus on Labour Exploitation (FLEX), the Latin American Women’s Rights Service (LAWRS) and the East European Resource Centre (EERC) have been busy running a project to help prevent labour exploitation in the UK’s cleaning...

The “cultural shock” for digital nomads, is it different?

The “cultural shock” for digital nomads, is it different?

Choosing to move abroad and become a digital nomad can come with exciting experiences, new friends and even a change in job. But it can also be overwhelming. You might find yourself feeling stressed out as you adjust to your new surroundings. During the...