As the world progresses from local to global, geographical boundaries act rather as bridges. Crossing one’s homeland’s border to explore the other side of the globe is gradually becoming a way of life- a way that opens doors to newer possibilities and wider scopes of progress.
However, transcending physical boundaries many times do not go hand in hand with mental, social, and intellectual changes. While one flies to the other country, he or she has to be conscious of the fact that unlike crossing physical borders, adapting to the changes, coming to terms with the newer values, adjusting to regular habits, etc do not happen overnight. Many of us learn it the hard way, and some of us do not learn at all. Conscious efforts, awareness, and orientation can help make the shift smoother. Here are some practical suggestions to make the process easier:
- Know the law thoroughly and abide by it in all cases.
Law and order play a vital role in maintaining one’s well-being. Especially when we are new to some country, it’s the biggest safety system for us, provided we ourselves abide by it fully.
Go through the rules and regulations of each place you walk in thoroughly so that you know.
- Maintain a close and trusted circle of social relations, and be careful while going beyond.
Get in touch with some of your college mates right from your home country before you fly. Also, connect with any of your friends and relatives already staying there in advance. Once you reach the destination, maintain regular contact with these trusted people. Though the limited social circle may bother you at times, it’s wise to stay in touch with them, initially going very slow and thoughtful for the new connections.
- Keep the spirit high:
Habits are our biggest friends as well as enemies. To form new habits, leaving the old ones may sometimes get very difficult. But we need to remember that flowing waters smoothen the rocks: we are humans. We have immense capacity to change in ourselves. It’s just a matter of time and willpower.
- Ask WHY:
Watch yourself and others around you neutrally and try to rationalize whatever comes to you. Giving a second thought to things can help a lot in understanding things from the right perspective. So, question everything on the basis of a rational, practical approach and make your decisions accordingly.
- Maintain a balance:
Believe in good; don’t be pessimistic. However, taking everything positively has its own risks. An overly optimistic approach may bring loss and harm. Instead, stay a little bit negative, no harm in it. Think about possibilities on both extremes; it shall help for informed decisions.
" Finally, do remember that all of us have different ways to cope with changes in life. While going through that, be fair and kind to yourself."
Dr Neha Patel
Associate Professor and coordinator,
Department of Communication and Skills Development, KSV
Department of International Relations, SVKM