3 things to feel settled quickly ...
#17
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1) Stop comparing everything to "home"
2) Get stuck in with your local community and embrace your new life
3) Don't surround yourself with nothing but ex-pats. They may help you more comfortable in the short term but IMVHO, the newbies that struggle to settle are invariably those that don't live outside little britain. By all means have friends that are ex-pats but don't only have ex-pats as friends.
2) Get stuck in with your local community and embrace your new life
3) Don't surround yourself with nothing but ex-pats. They may help you more comfortable in the short term but IMVHO, the newbies that struggle to settle are invariably those that don't live outside little britain. By all means have friends that are ex-pats but don't only have ex-pats as friends.
I have been here 21 years now and only have a couple of Brit friends.
Surround yourself with your new culture, and definately do NOT keep going on about or comparing things to "home" it never will be the same, or why would you move to canada anyways??
The people i avoid most are the ones that say ":I'm going back 'ome next week for me holidays" and they have lived here for like 35+ years!!
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Get access to UK TV. It's only one thing, but all the others require effort and I for one simply can't be arsed making an effort.
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I would say...
Try to
As a side point i have found Canadians to be very impressed when i tell them truthfully that there is only one sport and thats hockey and i love it... if i didnt have a job - this would be the phrase that would win in an interview...
Try to
- get into Hockey - support your local team
- Volunteer for something
- Attend some networking events or meetup groups to mix with local people
- if you do mix with expats - make sure they are positive Pro-Canada loving it ones and not ones that are negative and may bring you down
- Go camping, snowboarding, walking - enjoy what you didnt have before
As a side point i have found Canadians to be very impressed when i tell them truthfully that there is only one sport and thats hockey and i love it... if i didnt have a job - this would be the phrase that would win in an interview...
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I think this is a BIG thing. Don't be shy ..... you have just done an enormously brave thing in emigrating, and it's very empowering, so to turn up and announce yourself at your neighbourhood "whatever" club is small-fry in comparison! ... whether it's joining a group with an interest you already have, or trying something you'd never even heard of back in the day! ![Thumbs Up](https://britishexpats.com/forum/images/smilies/thumbsup.gif)
It's also a good opportunity to start a new interest with your other half, so you learn and laugh together, and then you can make friends together as well.
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It's also a good opportunity to start a new interest with your other half, so you learn and laugh together, and then you can make friends together as well.
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#28
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I absolutely agree with British Vixen 21..............I went 6 months before I started feeling homesick....Quite good going I think!! But, dont let yourself believe that you will never get homesick. It will happen - maybe only for something silly but, let it happen, I also believe in having that whole day to let it out and wake up the next day feeling refreshed and start loving the day again.
For me, I love the fact that our local store has REAL UK Baked Beans, Scott's Porridge and Chocolate digestives......Little tastes of home.
Find yourself something for you whether its joining a gym/class/volunteer group......Somewhere you can get to know people and share who you are. You will start to meet people and feel 'comfortable' with them again. I really miss having a chat, cuppa and get togethers with friends who know me for me, without effort.....I am getting there again with a few friends here.
It all takes time and you must remember that...I think that helps! Oh and remember winter can be a downer.......Summer is always round the corner!!
Hope you find some bits on this thread to make it all easier when it happens!! x
For me, I love the fact that our local store has REAL UK Baked Beans, Scott's Porridge and Chocolate digestives......Little tastes of home.
Find yourself something for you whether its joining a gym/class/volunteer group......Somewhere you can get to know people and share who you are. You will start to meet people and feel 'comfortable' with them again. I really miss having a chat, cuppa and get togethers with friends who know me for me, without effort.....I am getting there again with a few friends here.
It all takes time and you must remember that...I think that helps! Oh and remember winter can be a downer.......Summer is always round the corner!!
Hope you find some bits on this thread to make it all easier when it happens!! x
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1) Stop comparing everything to "home"
2) Get stuck in with your local community and embrace your new life
3) Don't surround yourself with nothing but ex-pats. They may help you more comfortable in the short term but IMVHO, the newbies that struggle to settle are invariably those that don't live outside little britain. By all means have friends that are ex-pats but don't only have ex-pats as friends.
2) Get stuck in with your local community and embrace your new life
3) Don't surround yourself with nothing but ex-pats. They may help you more comfortable in the short term but IMVHO, the newbies that struggle to settle are invariably those that don't live outside little britain. By all means have friends that are ex-pats but don't only have ex-pats as friends.
I think your second point is similar to something that I was going to suggest. I think it's important to have a positive attitude - a determination to make the best of things. Everyone has ups and downs in life. Setbacks don't define us as people - how we react to them defines us.
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