| It is much harder to adjust to a different cultural | | | | support system. |
| environment when you are constantly comparing | | | | It the reason is political, you probably have |
| everything to "back home". There is nothing more | | | | emotionally already cut many of your "back home" |
| depressing than hearing someone constantly saying: | | | | ties. That makes it much easier to adapt. It is hard to |
| "That's not the way we did it back home". If "back | | | | be concentrating on a lifestyle you chose to leave |
| home" is so great, maybe you should have stayed | | | | for political reasons. And if the move was based on |
| there. You can not enjoy your expatriate experience | | | | political persecution, even more so. |
| if you are dragging your home culture around with | | | | If the reason is economics, you have probably |
| you, like toilet paper stuck to your shoe. Give it up | | | | chosen a destination where your income will go |
| and enjoy the ride! | | | | further. That being the case, you may have picked |
| Attitudes toward the style of life you are entering | | | | the spot specifically so that you would not have to |
| into in your new expatriate experience effect your | | | | reduce your lifestyle. Adding a housekeeper, servant |
| ability to adjust. You cannot simply say you are going | | | | or two, and a gardener can go a long way to make |
| to adapt to your new environment and expect it to | | | | you forget your previous lifestyle. The governments |
| happen. You must take steps to make it happen | | | | of many expatriate destinations for example, have |
| (that is, if you want it to happen). There is nothing | | | | made it very appealing financially to retirees by |
| wrong with desiring to have some of the comforts | | | | providing widespread discounts and tax benefits. |
| and products from "back home". It is a natural desire, | | | | Panama's pensionado (retiree) visa is a good example. |
| and can actually help in your adjustment to your new | | | | Social reasons are harder to pin down. Only you can |
| country. But not realizing that you need to adjust, or | | | | be sure of why you chose your particular destination |
| not wanting to adjust prolongs your lifestyle | | | | it that is your emphasis. |
| adaptation. | | | | The best reason for moving to your new destination |
| How you adjust to expatriate living depends largely | | | | is to fulfill your spirit of adventure. When you are |
| on your reason for moving to your particular | | | | concentrating on enjoying a variety of new |
| destination. These reasons might be family, political, | | | | experiences, you do not have time to dwell on "back |
| economic, social, or even just fulfilling your spirit of | | | | home". And even when you think of home, you are |
| adventure. | | | | probably thinking about how much everyone else |
| Family reasons are the easiest. If you already have | | | | "back home" is missing. In that case you probably |
| family living in your destination country, you will | | | | have left your country emotionally, and can truly |
| probably find adapting to your new environment | | | | enjoy your expatriate experience. |
| relatively (no pun intended) easy. You have a built in | | | | |