Top 5 Problems Newcomers Face in America
Without a doubt, upon arrival in the United States, you are initially overwhelmed by euphoria from the scale, opportunities and intoxicating freedom, but everyday and cultural issues gradually sober up and encourage immediate action. A new country, a new culture, a new way of life - for many students who have just arrived in America, this can be a big challenge. I am sharing the top 5 problems that I personally encountered and that our students shared with me. I hope this will help a little for those who dream of coming to America or have already taken this step and do not know how to cope with similar difficulties on their own.
1. Search and rental housing
I think this is the main problem for students, since housing prices in America are relatively expensive (especially in big cities) and it is obvious that renting with someone you know is the best option. A month before leaving, I looked for accommodation in different groups on Facebook and found good guys. Many of our students cooperate with those who are in the general chat of the language school and rent in droves to save on rent. It is much easier to go through this installation stage with someone who can understand and support you at the right time.
2. Language barrier
The fear of saying something wrong or not understanding American speech arises constantly in the first months. I think the most important realization should be that by remaining silent you are depriving yourself of many opportunities that communication and interaction with other people opens up for you. Yes, at first it’s always inconvenient and difficult, you have to ask again several times, but what a thrill you experience later when your speech becomes fluent and you begin to “think in English.”
3. Homesickness
I think that everyone who leaves their home for a long time goes through these feelings. People, places, friends that gave a feeling of security and are now left behind remain in memory. It seems to me that it is precisely because of these thoughts that many return home in the first months, because they cannot answer the question: “why am I here?” If you clearly understand your goal, then homesickness fades into the background, you begin to make new acquaintances and build new social connections, which in the future make America your “second home.” I came to America when I was 20, so the adjustment process was not that difficult. I know that many of our students arrive at the age of 25-30, and at this age it is already more difficult to leave the place in which you have lived such a long life. I would like to cover this topic in a separate post.
4. Social life from scratch
One of the most difficult problems when moving to America is social adaptation. Upon arrival, you have to re-build your immediate circle, since communication with your family may not be enough. And here there are difficulties in that the language is not yet good enough, the city in which you live is also not fully studied. At times like this, I advise many of our students to look for local communities/clubs of interest or simply pay attention to those students who study with you. While doing a common activity, you will be able to adapt more easily. The second option for making new acquaintances is to join various groups on social networks that are at least somehow related to your interests and preferences. Find groups on Facebook or LinkedIn, join discussions on various topics and be open to small talk. I also highly recommend the Meetup app for finding like-minded people. There you can join local communities and go to events to socialize and try new things together.
5. Public transport
Although public transport in America offers one of the usual ways to move around the city, it also causes many inconveniences: long distances, inconsistencies with schedules, inconvenient stop locations, and so on. We advise our students to obtain a driver's license in their home country and test for a local license upon arrival in the United States. This will make your life much easier; after all, America is a car country.
Author: Anton Nayanzin
