Moving to a new place can be challenging for many individuals, but it can also often be an impactful experience that proves to be beneficial in a variety of ways.
For some people, moving requires starting fresh in entirely different countries and adapting to completely different lifestyles. Former Dallas-area resident Nicole Salerno Storrs and her family moved to London in June of 2022, for her husband, Steven, to take a new position as head of portfolio management for CBRE Investment Management.
“Initially, the most challenging thing about living in a new culture is the absence of familiarity and learning how to navigate a new way of life,” she said. “We had less of a learning curve, being that we moved to a major English-speaking city. However, it’s still a whole new way of life with small cultural norms to navigate—like the metric system, Celsius versus Fahrenheit, and where to find eggs in the grocery store (they are on the shelf by the baking goods, by the way).”
Storrs also said there are various aspects of life—including ways people socialize, work, and drive and understanding the education and healthcare system of a new place—to which one becomes accustomed growing up but then to which he or she must adjust rather quickly after a move.
“There is a sense of comfort in the familiar that you lose while living abroad, so the initial challenges don’t ever really go away,” she said. “But these challenges fade day by day as we become more accustomed to the way of life here.”
A move to America can also be quite an adjustment. Dallas-area resident Theo Hone moved from Zimbabwe to the United States in 2008 for college. He said one of the most significant differences he noticed was in the pace of life, something to which he struggled to adapt.
“Nobody here really knows how to slow down and relax,” he said. “The rat race is a very American idea, and it’s not easy to get used to.”
Former Dallas-area resident Maddi Hurd and her husband, Eric Castillo, moved to Spain in the summer of 2022 to teach English. She said the most difficult aspect of relocating to a new country was learning the language and being away from her friends and family.
“Although I’ve definitely gotten better at the language and have made friends, it can still be challenging,” she said. “There are also a lot of hoops to jump through in order to get established legally in another country, and the bureaucracy can be really difficult to navigate.”
Though the changes people face when moving to new countries can certainly be difficult to adjust to at times, they can also prove to be quite rewarding. Hone said it’s enjoyable being able to experience new things that are unique to other parts of the world.
“It makes you a much more open-minded and well-rounded person to get to see how others live,” he said.
Similarly, Storrs appreciates having exposure to unfamiliar cultures and the opportunity to try new things with her husband and two daughters.
“Whether we are exploring England as ‘locals’ or visiting nearby countries as tourists, it is so rewarding to experience different languages, foods, history, etc. together as a family,” she said.
Hurd said living in Spain has allowed her to learn and grow significantly as a person as she expands her view of the world and collects new experiences. She advises anyone making such a big life change to try to take advantage of available resources to become as informed as possible.
“Learn as much as you can about the culture, legal systems, and experiences from other people who made the move beforehand,” she said. “Do a lot of research, and ask for help.”
Hone said it’s also a good idea to allow oneself to become a part of his or her new world in order to become more accustomed to it.
“If there’s one thing you should do—whether it’s a regional or an international move—immerse yourself in the culture there,” he said. “Learn basic language, try the food, see the local area. The more quickly you feel comfortable and familiar in a new place, the easier it will be in the long run.”
Storrs offers similar advice, saying one should simply take bold steps into the new place and all it offers.
“The fastest way to curb the culture shock and build community is to wholeheartedly jump into the culture,” she said. “Don’t be afraid to try new things and ask people for help along the way. You’ll find people are surprisingly helpful and even drawn to you for being so vulnerable in seeking help. Also, try to connect with other expats. You’ll find it’s easier to cope with missing the comforts of home with people who can relate to the same feelings—strength in numbers, right?”
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