How to Live Like a Local in a Foreign Country

You’ve lived in the same neck of the woods your entire life. Or, you’ve lived all over the country. In either case, you’ve never left your country of origin for more than a vacation. But now you’ve decided to move overseas and you’d love nothing more than to be able to live like a local in a foreign country. Although there’s nothing you can do about physical traits (if you’re blonde and blue-eyed, you’ll always stick out in China), you can learn how to blend in and live like a local anywhere abroad.

Instructions

Difficulty: Challenging

Things You’ll Need:

• Language books and/or a language class (if needed)
• Lifestyle magazines based out of and/or based on your chosen locale
• Guide books on your chosen locale
• Map of the intended country

1. Speak like them. Before you do anything, immerse yourself in a language course, like a Berlitz class. Then look for a language partner who can speak with you on a regular basis (typically, you can find someone through college message boards or Craigslist). Of course, if you speak English and are moving to England, you don’t need a language course, per se, but you will need to learn the accents and the lingo. That’s where movies come in handy. Rent several films filmed in your chosen locale that are based in current times, it’s a great way to learn specific jargon and nuances in body language.
2. Pick up several magazines and guidebooks pertaining to and based in your country of choice. For instance, if you are German and moving to New York City, you’d want to read Time Out NY and The Village Voice. Both are available in hardcopy and online. There is also an excellent guidebook series from Frommers called the Irreverent Guide. They cover several locations, and have decent insight into what’s hot and what’s not in their subsequent areas.
3. Read guidebooks on your selected locale with regards to customs, religious observations, and “what not to do” tips. This is also a place where social sites such as Myspace and Facebook come in handy—-if you have an account, seek out people who live in your chosen destination and ask questions. Your best resource is people who live in the country you are interested in.
4. Move on to clothing (if that isn’t covered in customs). Learn where the locals shop and eat. Follow their lead.

Tips & Warnings

• More than anything, you must be willing to keep an open mind about your adopted culture and home and you must be patient with yourself. Learning a new language gets harder the older you get, so give yourself some leeway.