• Nail down your personal must-haves. For some people a hair salon, a massage therapist, an aerobics class, or a particular brand of tea or coffee may be critical to begin feeling “at home.” You might think these things are trivial, and perhaps to some extent they are.
But during this highstress time when so many other things are going to be unfamiliar, you’ll find comfort in the small, familiar things and will breathe a sigh of relief with your own personal “basics” in place—those things you probably took for granted back home.
• Make contact with at least one expat living locally. Established expats can be a valuable source of information, assistance, and on-the-ground expertise. Chances are that you will already have the names of several, be they people you actually know or, as is more likely, friends of friends. If not, find one either through your office, your alumni association, or a mutual friend.
They can answer many “how-to” questions easily and will reduce the stress of having to figure out everything yourself. They will also be the ones to call when you’ve temporarily had enough or need to share your cultural mishaps.