5 stages of adaptation in another country
In 2022, many relocated out of necessity or desire. I myself moved to America more than four years ago and I know what it’s like to be disappointed in your choice, and then to believe in it again. I would like to talk about the five main stages of adaptation to a new country:
1. When you just arrived, everything around you seems bright, interesting and much nicer than at home. Euphoria, joy and surprise, new acquaintances, opportunities and goals. I expected all this from America long before my arrival and received it right after.
2. For many people who have moved, disappointment and irritation often appear unnoticed and quite abruptly. The understanding comes that now everything needs to be built anew: simple communication and ordinary comfort. Some people learn everything literally from scratch, just like a child. Be it going to the bank or store, getting a license or organizing leisure and recreation. It is possible that a deep feeling of loneliness will arise, as happened to me on the very first New Year in the USA, 4 months after my arrival.
3. Device. This is not yet a stage of complete adaptation, but rather a stage of acceptance. You are trying to understand the local culture of communication and behavior, the structure of life and everyday life, and the mentality of the residents. Some people even find some moments annoying, and
thoughts arise about returning home. By the way, it never came to this for me, although some moments certainly seemed super unusual.
4. If you cope with the previous stage, do not give up and give the new country a chance, then there is a high probability of changing yourself from the inside, rebuilding and getting used to the world around you. You gain new interests, friends and company, and previously unusual things become part of your daily routine.
5. You find more and more advantages of life in a new country, socialize, strive to study and travel more. Thoughts about the old house cause at least a misunderstanding of why to return there and what to catch there. Now I don’t remember my life before America at all, there is no feeling at all that the place where I lived for 20 years is my “home”.
Almost every person in a new country (not only America) goes through all these stages, but at their own pace. Some people don’t linger at this or that stage of adaptation at all and cope with everything quickly and easily, while others cannot get out of euphoria for years, for example, and then urgently leave. We are all very different, with different interests and experiences, but difficult times happen to everyone anyway. The main thing to remember is that this is normal and everything can be dealt with.
Author: Anton Nayanzin
