The Expat Experience: The Challenges of Living Abroad
The Expatriate: Thriving In Your New Environment
An expatriate experience is a huge life adventure, full of opportunities and challenges. An expatriate (or 'expat') is someone who leaves their home country to live in a foreign land. Expats typically plan to return home eventually, while immigrants are permanently residing in their new country.
The expat journey can be enriching. You are exposed to new cultures, languages, and experiences. However, it also comes with its unique set of challenges, particularly on the psychological front.
The psychological landscape of an expat
Living in a foreign country, away from the familiar comforts of home, can be a daunting experience. Life can differ on every level. You may be unfamiliar with everything from the cost of living to the prevailing political system.
The culture may differ vastly, and the sense of being an outsider can be overwhelming. For example, a person moving from Los Angeles (or some other part of the United States) to Saudi Arabia must deal with a very different way of life.
Adjusting to a new cultural context is a complex process involving many psychological factors.
It's not just about learning a new language or understanding local customs. You must also deal with a fundamental shift in how people perceive and interact with the world. This process is often referred to as cultural adjustment. This process is a key aspect of the expatriate experience.
Cultural adjustment involves a dual process of cultural and psychological change resulting from contact between two or more cultural groups (1). This process is often characterized by a series of stages:
The initial euphoria of being in a new place
A period of frustration and confusion as cultural differences become more apparent
A phase of understanding and acceptance as one becomes more familiar with the new culture.
A u-shaped experience
One key theory that explains adaptation is the U-Curve Theory of Adjustment.
This theory suggests that cultural adjustment follows a U-shaped curve. Initially, expatriates may experience a 'honeymoon' phase where everything is exciting and new.
However, as the reality of living in a foreign country sets in, they may enter a 'crisis' phase where they feel homesick, frustrated, and anxious.
Over time, as they learn more about the new culture and begin to feel more comfortable, they enter the 'recovery' phase, and eventually the 'adjustment' phase, where they feel at ease in the new culture.
However, the process of cultural adjustment is not the same for everyone. It can be influenced by various factors, including personality traits, previous international experience, language skills, and the level of cultural difference between the home and host countries (3).
Expatriates often face several key areas of difficulty during their adjustment process:
Cultural Differences: Understanding and adapting to the norms, values, and customs of the host country. This can include everything from communication styles to social etiquette to attitudes towards work and family.
Language Barriers: Even if expatriates speak the language of the host country, they may struggle with local dialects, slang, or non-verbal communication cues.
Social Isolation: Expatriates may feel lonely or isolated, particularly if they have difficulty making local friends or are separated from family and support networks.
Workplace Challenges: Expatriates may face challenges in adapting to the work culture of the host country. People may encounter different expectations around hierarchy, communication, and work-life balance, for example.
Identity Issues: Living in a foreign country can lead to questions about identity and belonging, particularly for long-term expatriates.
Practical Difficulties: Everyday tasks, such as navigating public transportation or understanding local laws and regulations can be challenging.
Understanding these challenges can help expatriates prepare for their move and develop strategies to cope with the difficulties they may face. It's also important for organizations to provide support to expatriate employees. Help may come in the form of pre-departure training, language classes, and mental health resources.
Psychological support
Psychological support is often overlooked for expats. However, this resource can greatly enhance a person's ability to adapt to the new cultural context. Two studies based in Vietnam (4) and Bangladesh (5) consider the use of mental health programs in a foreign context. These studies highlight the importance of mental health literacy and the need for culturally sensitive interventions.
Practical strategies for expats
Here are some practical strategies that expats can implement:
Cultural Adaptation: Take time to learn about the culture of your host country. This can help you understand local customs and etiquette, making your transition smoother.
Social Connections: Building a social network can provide a sense of community and help alleviate feelings of isolation.
Self-Care: Regular exercise, a balanced diet, and adequate sleep can go a long way in maintaining your physical and mental health.
Professional Help: Don't hesitate to seek professional help if you're struggling with your mental health.
Normalise the challenges: Expect to go through periods of difficulty, confusion and doubt. These are a normal part of the expat experience. These phases often pass, provided you are not experiencing subsequent mental health difficulties.
Summary
Being an expatriate is a journey of discovery, filled with new experiences, challenges, and opportunities for growth. This path may be fraught with difficulties. But, understanding the process and challenges can equip expats with the necessary tools to navigate their new lives successfully.
The psychological landscape of an expat is complex and multifaceted, shaped by a myriad of factors including personality traits, previous international experience, language skills, and the level of cultural difference between the home and host countries. However, expats can survive and even thrive in their new homes with skills and support.
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References
Sterle, M., Fontaine, J., De Mol, J., & Verhofstadt, L. (2018). Expatriate Family Adjustment: An Overview of Empirical Evidence on Challenges and Resources.
Thoma, M., Rohleder, N., & Rohner, S. L. (2021). Clinical Ecopsychology: The Mental Health Impacts and Underlying Pathways of the Climate and Environmental Crisis.
Kalisch, R., Köber, G., Binder, H., Ahrens, K. F., Basten, U., Chmitorz, A., Choi, K. W., Fiebach, C., Goldbach, N., Neumann, R., Kampa, M., Kollmann, B., Lieb, K., Plichta, M., Reif, A., Schick, A., Sebastian, A., Walter, H., Wessa, M., Yuen, K., Tüscher, O., & Engen, H. G. (2021). The Frequent Stressor and Mental Health Monitoring-Paradigm: A Proposal for the Operationalization and Measurement of Resilience and the Identification of Resilience Processes in Longitudinal Observational Studies.
Dang, H., Weiss, B., Lam, T. T., & Ho, H. (2018). Mental health literacy and intervention program adaptation in the internationalization of school psychology for Vietnam.
Akter, F., Rahman, M., Pitchik, H., Winch, P., Fernald, L., Huda, T. M. N., Jahir, T., Amin, R., Das, J., Hossain, K., Shoab, A. K., Khan, R., Yeasmin, F., & Sultana, J. (2020). Adaptation and Integration of Psychosocial Stimulation, Maternal Mental Health and Nutritional Interventions for Pregnant and Lactating Women in Rural Bangladesh.
