What I Learned Living Abroad
A smile and some humility can get you far.
Things are inevitably going to go wrong when living abroad. Making both cultural and language mistakes are unavoidable. One constant I found to be true in all the countries I visited was that locals were patient, forgiving, and willing to work with me if I tried my best, acknowledged when I was wrong, viewed mistakes as opportunities to learn, and stayed humble. Having an open mind and having a strong desire to learn went a long way. A smile and some friendliness went further.
How to be comfortable being uncomfortable. (Embrace the awkwardness!)
When I was in Belgium, I found myself in need of directions to my friend’s apartment after I got off the train. I was in a non-touristy part of town, and it was mid-morning, so most people were at work or at school. The only person I saw on the street was a thirty-something man in a sharply tailored trench coat. He didn’t speak English, and I didn’t speak Dutch or German, but we both spoke a little bit of Spanish. We were able to communicate, albeit with some silliness and awkwardness. If I had been afraid to make a mistake or look silly, I wouldn’t have been able to get the directions I needed.
Most things are subjective.
Everything from table manners to the politeness of tipping to appropriate dress code is dependent on culture. Very few rules are universal. Even grammar rules aren’t universal between the US and the UK—and we speak the same language!
‘When in Rome, do as the Romans do’ is actually great advice.
I initially wrote this one off because, in my 20-year-old’s mind, it was just so cliched and therefore couldn’t possibly be useful or worth anyone’s time. I was wrong. This is great advice, and following it will go a long way towards helping you have a good experience abroad. Trying local delicacies, trying my hand at local sports, incorporating local slang into my vocabulary to be better understood, and adopting some of the local customs that dictate politeness helped me better engage with the cultures I found myself in. It also helped me make friends and helped make social interactions go smoother while going about my daily business.