Missing the comforts of home

Once you have made the brave step to a new life in a foreign country, inevitably, at some stage you will start missing home and the things that you were used to. Missing friends, family, traditions and the food are typically the most difficult things you will have to deal with as an expatriate.

Missing home and the various other things that were important to you before you left is normal and is part of the transition into a new country and new culture. It can be especially hard if the culture of the country you have moved to is really different to what you were used to.

In the first few months or even the first year, you may feel as if you have lost your identity. Having this state of mind can amplify the feelings of missing home. Back home, people knew you and knew your personality. It may feel like you have to rebuild your identity. In some respects you have to, but it is important to remember why you moved to a new country in the first place. Maybe you wanted a fresh start in life. Grasp the opportunity this fresh start has given you. You could even give your personality a makeover and be someone new.

Dealing with missing home, friends and family can be made that much easier, but it takes effort. One of the important aspects you can do is to plan. Plan to make calls to friends and loved ones. Plan not to be alone. Don't let yourself be alone too much as this is not good for your morale. Invite the new friends you make to spend time with you. Arrange for your family and friends back home to come and visit as much as possible. By being proactive and planning, you will have something to look forward to and this helps with the thoughts of missing home.

In this modern age of communications, there are many ways to keep in touch. Telephone, email, Internet chat and even via web cam video. Grasp the technology and get it working in your favour. You may feel that you are missing out on things at home, but imagine what a video of your nieces birthday party would do for you. Sure it would probably make you miss home, but you would still feel very much a part of what is happening back home and have not been forgotten.

Learn to fit in with the new culture you have found yourself in. Forget that back home you would celebrate Christmas like this, or would eat this on a Sunday. You are not at home so learn to live like the locals. Once you accept that the world around you is different, maybe then you will learn to live with it and feel part of something again. Perhaps that is when you can start to deal with missing home.

Missing home is difficult to overcome, but with effort, friends, a social life and enthusiasm to fit into this new life, it can be easier to deal with.

Memories of Canada

Back in 2003, I had cause to make several visits to Canada, mainly to the eastern side, including Montreal, Ottawa and Quebec. Since the visits, I have a desire to make the move across the Atlantic and start a new life there.

As a boy, my memories of growing up in the UK are of hot summers and cold winters. Something that seems to have changed beyond all recognition now. Perhaps it is a distorted memory, or at least the memory of a child, but the thought of going back to seasons that you have been brought up with, seems really appealing.

Although the winters I remember as a child seemed cold, they are nothing compared to the winters experienced by the Canadians. The times I spent in Canada were mostly during the winter and it was incredibly cold. Living in the UK, especially England, brings the same old problem each and every year. One cold snap and the whole country grinds to a halt. Although the conditions in Canada seem inhospitable compared to that of the UK, they seem to cope far better than we do. It also is far more appealing than that of the UK, especially with the Christmas Card scenes that are around every corner, thanks to the snow.

In stark contrast to the winter, the summers in Canada seem really hot. Perhaps there is no middle ground. Just winter and summer? That is what appeals to me most about Canada. Well, that, the people and the ability to breathe. I am not talking about breathing in a literal manner, more a manner of space to breathe. The UK is not one of the biggest places on Earth and space is becoming more and more limited. Take London for example. There is less and less space to live and people are crammed into flats and apartments the size of shoe boxes, just for the luxury of living in London. Sure, London is a great city, but the thought of having the room to breathe seems truly appealing.

This year I hope to go back to Canada and experience the openness of the country and of the people there. In all the visits I made there, I found the Canadians to be pleasant and very polite. That is such a nice thing to experience in today's "no time for anyone" society we live in. One thing that sticks in my mind about the Canadians, is the fact they are so proud to be Canadian. In my opinion it is justified and I can't wait to make the hop across the Atlantic and experience some more of that Canadian hospitality.

For any Canadians who visit this site, I would love to publish any thoughts you have about Canada and what is like to live there. Not only for me, but for anyone else who is looking at moving there.

Expat shopping

Sampling the local food in another country can be an eye opening and often rewarding experience for those expats who are willing to be open minded. Depending on what country you are living in as an expat, will depend on just how open minded you have to be.

There is a phrase that says "you can take the man out of the city, but you can't take the city out of the man." The same can be said for your tastes. How many times have we heard the typical Brits say "you can't get a proper cup of tea in spain", or "that's not real bacon!". That is probably the truth, but you have to bear in mind that you are not in the UK.

Whilst most of us are happy to try new foods and new tastes, most of us still miss the tastes we have been brought up with. One of the problems you face by living in foreign country, is the fact that you cannot get hold of the food you are used to back home.

The Internet has no doubt made the world a smaller place. Combine that with modern travel, and the world is your oyster. If oyster is not your taste, then maybe baked beans are!

There are a number of expat shopping websites that have been developed to cater for the needs of expatriates missing the taste of home. In this modern lifestyle we have, most things are readily available in most countries, but there are still things that are unique to specific countries. This is where expat shopping can help.

One of the expat shopping sites we have teamed up with at Xpatpals, is the Coop in Wooldale, located in the UK. From their site, you can order your goods online and they will have them shipped out to you. They offer worldwide shipping and can have your goods with you within 2-3 days if you are in Europe, or anywhere from 5-10 days for other countries worldwide.

If you are longing to taste that special something you miss from back home, it may be worthwhile giving expat shopping a try. Just think, within a few days, you could be starting your morning with a proper bacon sandwich, smothered with brown sauce. Enough to make your mouth water!

We have focused on expat shopping that is available from the UK. If you know of shopping that is available from other countries, catering for different nationalities, then why not start a topic in the forums. Sharing your information on expat shopping sites will help your fellow expats.