“My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style.” -Maya Angelou
Have you ever been in a place where it was difficult to communicate with other people? I’ve spent plenty of time choosing not to talk to anyone. There have been days I’ve stayed at home to recharge my introvert batteries. Or played jokes on my students where I pretend to lose my voice, curious to see how they would respond. But very rarely have I found myself in a place where I couldn’t talk or communicate easily.
I’ve traveled to other countries before. Short-term trips have taken me to Europe, Central America, and Africa. Other than the fact that Husband and I are here for longer than “short term,” there’s one distinct difference in my experience so far. Unlike my other trips abroad, here I don’t have a translator or a tour guide. Traveling with a group of people has its perks, but there’s nothing quite like being somewhere more or less on your own. Alone and unafraid. I’ve learned a lot in our first few months here, so I’d like to share with you a few tips to thrive in a foreign country.
Thrive Tip #1: Download Google Translate (or another translator app)
For real, this should be your number one to-do. Go ahead and download the offline version of the language you’re planning to use the most. This allows you to translate things when your phone doesn’t have service.
Google has also done some sweet upgrades since I last needed the app. Now, you can take a picture of signs or menus and highlight the section you need to be translated. Or you can get a real-time translation using your phone’s camera. It’s not perfect (for example, it doesn’t much like vertical Japanese writing), but it should keep you from accidentally eating horse meat at the sushi-go-round.
Thrive Tip #2: Take advantage of any language classes offered
This is our first overseas assignment, so I can’t speak for all posts out there, but ours has been fabulous in this area. As part of the week (or more) in-processing and orientation, servicemen and spouses participate in a 40-hour “headstart” class. We had three instructors who rotated through and taught us basic sentence structure and grammar, some vocabulary, cultural highlights, and places to visit.
In addition to the weeklong crash course, there are collegiate level classes for Japanese, as well as free conversational language groups that meet at least once a week. Don’t be afraid – take advantage of whatever is offered. Get experience seeing and saying the language. I promise you’ll feel more comfortable out and about in no time.
Thrive Tip #3: Practice a little every day
I can’t advocate enough for this – if you don’t practice, you won’t get any better. Practice everything from riding the train to ordering at a restaurant to counting foreign money. Husband and I make a point to go outside of the American bubble of the base often. I may only be able to say 6 words. But I practice saying them well – and with gusto!
I study the train maps, looking for commonalities between kanji characters. We listen to Japanese radio stations in the car. The more I hear it, the better able I am to pick out words I recognize. I also try to do daily practice with Duolingo and Tiny Cards. They’re free apps and super easy to navigate. You can even create your own flashcard sets with Tiny Cards, giving you the freedom to practice whatever needs work.
Thrive Tip #4: Try it anyway
Going out to a restaurant, especially the first few times, can be a stressful experience. We’ve found there’s usually some version of an English menu available, or at least wax food on display outside of the restaurant. But that definitely isn’t always the case. Gather all the info you can to make an informed decision, but there’s also freedom in pointing to something unknown and ordering it anyway. (disclaimer – I don’t have food allergies to common foods, so I have the luxury of being able to point and take a chance. Take care of yourselves out there, folks.)
Thrive Tip #5: Find an adventure buddy
Sometimes, this is easier said than done. Give yourself some grace and time to find a friend that you click with. Things are less intimidating when done with other people. And the old saying holds, “two heads are better than one”. If one of us can’t figure something out, the other usually has a helpful suggestion. This friend can be your spouse (and should be at least some of the time. Heck, they might be your only friend for a while) but find other friends to adventure with too. There’s nothing quite like shopping in a random thrift store with a new girlfriend – Husband just wouldn’t enjoy it nearly as much.
Thrive Tip #6: Don’t be afraid to get out there
Don’t let fear paralyze you and keep you indoors or confined to the base. Move around your new community. Stop into that small coffee shop on the street and muddle your way through ordering a latte. The owner will forgive your broken Japanese and tendency to point at things. Get lost a little. Pay attention to signs and conversations around you and pick up what you can. Over time it will all start to come together.
Moving to another country, far away from family and friends is a scary thing to do. Maybe you didn’t want to leave your last station. Maybe you were counting down the days until you could put that place in your rearview mirror. However you’re feeling about this transition, I encourage you to step past the gate and introduce yourself to your new community.
If you’ve been down this road before, what choices helped you get out there and thrive? Leave a comment with your advice or stories about living abroad. Until next time!
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