Unsure, perplexed, unclear or bewildered are some of the words that come to mind when we think about leaving our comfort zone and traveling around the big bad world. No matter how confident or brave we are the thought of going to a brand new place, learning a new culture and making new friends seems scary and frightening (and rightfully so).
I'm not going to sugarcoat it or try and convince you that all the scary thoughts in your head will immediately go away when you finally get to your destination because the truth is it won't, if anything those thoughts will probably escalate further. Imagine landing in a huge airport after countless layovers for it to sink in that the people around you barely speak English (if they speak any at all). Us as human beings want to feel as though we belong and with an introduction like this - it is only human for one to question their motives, goals and whether or not they have made the right decision but seriously hang in there because a great adventure is just around the corner!
The first week will probably be the roughest, learning your way around your new town by foot, attempting to figure out the new bus routes which are not available in English and in my case desperately searching for new friends. No matter what priorities you set for the first week, bare in mind you probably won't achieve them all and will most definitely get ridiculously lost at least once or twice but also remember that it is not the end of the world! Late for work because you took the wrong bus? Chill out! No one is going to be waiting for you to give you a talking to or shouting at, they know you're new and will be understanding and sympathetic, they will probably even be waiting for you with a nice cup of coffee and a comforting hug. We tend to be our worst enemy by working ourselves up in a crisis. This has a terrible domino affect as it leads us into panic mode and doesn't allow us to think of a solution because we are too busy focusing on the stress we are so busy creating for ourselves. Once you learn to not freak out, take a deep breadth and think clearly - simple solutions such as just taking a taxi will come to you much quicker and is a way better alternative than having a big cry on the side of the street (believe me, been there, done that).
Weird situations that you didn't even factor in or think would even happen will occur - for me, it was making friends with the wrong person. I met a guy at a bus stop who I considered just a friend, while he considered us more than friends. After 2 weeks and an awkward encounter - I had lost my first and only friend, life was not great. After cutting ties with someone who clearly wasn't the right fit I realized I wasn't just going to settle for any type of friendship just because I wanted "friends", little did I know that two days later I would meet the coolest crew around town - my people (holla)! After that the friendship circle just got bigger and bigger and in a matter of days "the bus stop guy" was just a distant memory. Don't sweat the small things that you haven't prepared yourself for, you are in a new place so there are going to be a lot of random situations coming your way that you have to take in your stride and embrace.
Don't let these little hurdles scare you or make you question your decision. In due time you will think about those bumps in the road and laugh while sipping a glass of vino and overlooking a beautiful sunset in your new country!
Tayla xx
