By now you have probably spent months carefully researching and getting ready to teach abroad. All your hard work has led to this final moment: arrival. During those first days and weeks after you stepped off the plane you might be asking yourself the big question, 'What am I doing here and why did I ever want to leave the comforts of home???"

Laugh if you will, but this is a very common reaction of people who have just started teaching abroad. Relax. Take a deep breathe and read on!

Going to a different country is well, just that, a different country. Keep in mind your original motivation to teach abroad was likely one of these reasons - to travel, to gain new experiences, to learn new things and meet new people. Not all travelers remember this though, and fall into the trap of experiencing what they expect to experience, rather than something new. There are ways to avoid this though, and it all starts with opening your mind to new things.

Five Simple Steps To Help You Adjust

1. Familiarize Yourself With Your Surroundings

Get out of your apartment and start walking around your local area. Bring a map so you can mark down any interesting spots you will want to come back to. At first, your objective may be to find the local bank, post office and grocery store, but as you grow in confidence keep going farther afield and finding new areas to explore.

2. Learn the Local Language

Even learning a few words will go a long way toward feeling settled in your new home. You will definitely want a command of at least the basic food groups to avoid any dinner 'surprises,' but you may even surprise yourself at how quickly you pick up the local language. The long-term reward will be a new language skill to take back home with you.

3. Meet Local Friends.

Meeting friends is a great way to learn more about the local culture. Do a little research and find out what local activities you might be interested in, or where the best nightlife might be. You may also find people just coming up to you and starting a conversation. Remember that they too will be interested in you and your own culture. Friendships such as these may last a lifetime and encourage a greater cultural understanding between your two countries.

4. Try New Foods

For many people trying new and exciting foods is the best part about traveling and teaching abroad. It's likely that there will be many new foods for you to try so this is the perfect time to let loose and taste everything at least once. if you don't like it just remember the name and move onto the next item on the menu! It is almost guaranteed you will miss at least one food when you return home.

5. Be Respectful At All Times

This should go without saying, but sadly is often forgotten. Try to always remember that you are visiting a foreign country that likely has many customs different from your own. Keep your eyes, ears and mind open at all times, and absorb rather than reject local habits. Remember too, that you are an acting 'ambassador' of your own country, and that your actions may reflect poorly of your country in the eyes of locals.

Good Luck!

While you may initially find teaching abroad to be a stressful satiation, don't make the mistake of thinking you are alone in feeling this way. Like any new situation in life, it will take some time to adjust to your new surroundings. By following the above five tips and keeping an open mind, you will soon discover that teaching abroad is an amazing experience and one that you will remember for the rest of your life!

The limits of your language are the limits of your world. - Ludwig Wittgenstein

Feature Photo Credit: Takadanobaba Kurazawa on Flickr