Feeling At Home: Get Your Bearings

Posted on 10. Aug, 2009 by Emmanuelle Archer in Blog, Expat Life, Relocation
1 comment

What do you do to get your bearings in an unfamiliar city? Having moved 13 times in 15 years, I’ve had to find ways to get acquainted with a new place – fast.

Sure, leisurely strolls and chance discoveries are part of the fun of relocating somewhere new, but when you move around a lot, you may want to be a little strategic about getting oriented – your mental sanity will thank you later!

Here’s what I set out to learn about a place right after relocating there:

- Dangerous areas

This doesn’t just mean neighbourhoods with higher crime rates. Depending on where you live, you may need to learn about landmines, rallying points for protests, or crazy traffic patterns that make crossing the street a death wish.

- Landmarks

Since you’re going to be asking for directions often, you might as well learn your landmarks as soon as possible. Monuments, big shopping centres and public buildings are good bets… especially if you live in a place where no one uses street names and addresses.

- Shops

As you explore your new surroundings (preferably by foot), take note of where you can buy food, household items, medications, etc. Something as simple as mailing a letter can turn into an adventure abroad, so even just knowing where to go will give you some peace of mind.

- Doctor, dentist, optometrist, hospital

No, I am not a hypochondriac (!) In many countries, you must register with a doctor and get on their patient list before you can get an appointment. Finding health care professionals with whom you feel comfortable can take a while, so start your search right away and get the registration process out of the way.

- Hobbies

If working out or oil painting are an important part of your life, you will not feel truly at home until you find a good gym or art class. If these activities are important to you, then make them a priority.

Hobbies aren’t an indulgence that can wait until everything else is settled. They’re essential to your well-being and your integration in your new country. Move them to the top of your list!

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Emmanuelle

Images by kevbo1983 (top) and . SantiMB . (bottom), both via Flickr Creative Commons