site logo
  • Home
  • Business
  • Psychology
  • Expat life
  • About
  • Contact
Homepage > Expat life > 5 things I wish I’d asked before moving abroad
May 20, 2017 In Expat life

5 things I wish I’d asked before moving abroad

I wish Id asked_ProjectAbroad

Series ‘I wish I’d…’ is supposed to serve one purpose – help new expats avoid some of my mistakes and make their transition smoother. Of course, you still need to make your own learning. But even if you just reflect on one little thing from the below list and avoid even one difficulty during your move  I’ll consider this article helpful!

Under each of the questions you’ll find my experiences and examples as well as some of my key reflections.

There’s also a BONUS at the end of this article, so read on for some extra information.

 

 1. What do you need to be able to set up a bank account?

My experience:

I come from Poland. Setting up a bank account there took me 10 minutes. I walked into the branch, waited for a couple of minutes for an advisor to be available,  I only needed my ID and phone number. End of story. Easy-peasy.

Imagine my frustration when I walked into a bank branch in my first week of being here only to be told that I need to call (!) and arrange a meeting to be able to set up a bank account. I asked if we can just arrange it now since I’m already here. No. I needed to call. So I called one bank and basically after a short discussion about where I live where I’m from etc. it turned out that they are not allowing bank accounts for foreign new-comers. I called another bank and (luckily!) they were fine with the foreigners. My meeting was arranged for the following week.

And that’s not the end of story yet.

I appeared in the bank at a scheduled time. I started talking with the customer advisor, all going well, ‘So far so good’, I thought. Well, turned out that I’m missing a document confirming my employment and salary and they are not able to set up my account now. I asked if we could maybe set it up and I will arrange the document and bring it in tomorrow. No. You can’t. You need to set up another meeting, but of course you can’t do it now – I needed to call the hotline again. Ri-di-cu-lous!

I got a bunch of other forms to fill in at home, I set up another meeting, finally had all the documents and the meeting in the bank itself lasted 1,5 hours. One and a half hours! The advisor was rewriting all the information (addresses, personal data etc.) from the forms to their system.

Three things I’ve learnt here:

If I’d asked another expat how the process looks like, I would have spared myself a lot of frustrations.

If I didn’t know the language well I would have definitely needed much more help with the bureaucracy here.

If I had come with an open mind, without expectations (which at the time were that in this highly developed western country everything works well, there’s no bureaucracy and it can’t be worse than Poland), I would again have spared myself the frustrations.

 

 2. What was your biggest challenge/learning after moving here?

Moving to London I knew how important a state of mind is, I knew that moving abroad is full of challenges and full of adventures. Nevertheless, I focused more on reading the practical tips, asking about practical things and generally, I have been doing more than reflecting.

I wish I’d asked more people about what their biggest surprises in this city were, what were the biggest challenges, what they found great and what they found difficult. I would have asked fellow Polish people with similar background to mine, but also expats from other parts of the world. The problem was, at that time I didn’t realise how big (and great!) the expat community is and how many ways there are to get in contact with them virtually. This would have been so helpful in widening my perspective before coming here and also just being prepared for various situations.

 

 3. What does it mean? What is it?

My experience:

Let me start with a mistake I made. I thought that if I know the local language, it would be so easy to adjust. Wrong. Language is important and it definitely speeds up the process, but it’s a mistake to think that you will only end up with challenges non-related to it. I’ve learnt the lesson very quickly.

At the beginning I didn’t want to look incompetent or ignorant, I wanted to blend in as much as possible. Of course the accents, slang, local names for various things, tv shows and childhood memories became a challenge in communication. Turned out that my colleagues at work talk about so many different things that I have no clue about! I ended up asking them probably 2-3 times a day what something means, what is it that they’re talking about. It must have been slightly annoying as it disrupted the flow of their conversations, but I must say that if it weren’t for them, I don’t know how I would have coped. They were really understanding towards me (Thank you guys if you’re reading this! ;)). Some of them were expats themselves, but living in the UK for years, so they were able to relate to my challenges better.

At some point I stopped asking those questions so often as I felt that, you know, two months in, I should know it all by now. That meant I started taking notes of the words I’ve heard, as I’ve heard them, and googled based on the context after these conversations. That also meant I was missing out, not being able to contribute.

Things I would have done differently:

I would have kept asking. I would have used these couple of first months even more to grasp as much as possible and allow myself to do more mistakes and not understand things. I would have asked the questions ‘What does it mean?’, ‘What is it?’ as I needed to. I wouldn’t have been ashamed of not knowing. It’s obvious that I’m foreign anyway, right? 😉

 

 4. Where can you buy food with good quality and reasonable price?

My story:

Very practical question that I asked quite late.

Moving to London was a financial slap in the face anyway, so the price of goods that I was buying was a serious thing for me at the time. At first I started buying in Sainsbury’s and Tesco as that’s what everyone seemed to be talking about and they were nearby. Food seemed quite expensive though so I started my own research, looked at websites that compare various supermarkets and also talked to my friends. I’ve learned about a shop called Asda, relatively cheap, has a lot of products marked with their brand, but the food is normal quality and much cheaper (for Polish people that might be reading it, you can compare it to Biedronka). A couple of my expat friends also recommended is as good and cheap, so I tried. And I still do the weekly shopping there, going to nearby shops only once in a while. (Not a sponsored article, by the way, just a real expat life experience!) )

Things I wish I’d asked in advance:

I would have asked people what are the equivalents of my home country’s shops in England. Globalisation makes things a lot easier these days anyway, with various brands being present around the world, but it’s good to relate to the things we already know. I’d encourage you to do it before you arrive to a new country.

A note for my Polish readers, looking to move to the UK: Asda could be an equivalent of our Biedronka, Sainsbury’s would be something like Piotr i Pawel, Boots is like Rossmann or Hebe, Wilko is a bit like Pepco.

 

 5. What are the everyday do’s and don’ts?

I know it’s probably stupid, but I didn’t really ask that question to anyone before coming to London. Not a major thing here, but I wish I’d asked some people about what are the do’s and don’ts in London, what do people hate when tourists do etc.

I’ve learnt very quickly that you cannot stand on the left side of the escalator under any condition (you stand on the right and walk on the left); you have to move down inside the carriage and cannot obstruct the doors in the tube (tube=underground=metro); you don’t need to push the button for the doors to open in the tube. Tube etiquette is pretty extensive here! 😀

It’s even more important to just be aware of these things when you move to a culture that is more distant to yours. The do’s and don’ts then refer more to the behaviours (how to greet, take the shoes off at someone’s house or not etc.), but remember that there’s much more to cultural differences than just those things.

 

 

 

And here’s a promised BONUS for those of you who got through to the end – things I have asked and which helped me a lot!

– What do you need to set up once you arrive? – in the UK there were a couple of things – bank account, national insurance number, medical care (NHS), flat rent. All of those things seemed to be interrelated and for example you couldn’t set up NIN without having an address, you couldn’t rent a flat without the bank account etc, so there was some logistics and luck involved in the process.

– What to watch out for when looking for a flat and where to best look for it? – I did quite a research among friends about the flats. I didn’t have much time to find it really, so I needed to know the basics. Thanks to this I restricted my search to the recommended areas, set up a reasonable price range and avoided renting flats that were a scam. In London I think the most important thing is to look at the EPC ratings (especially if the heating is not included in the rent) and any damp and mould. Looking for flats is one of the things I really don’t like about London, by the way.

– What’s the best way to travel around the city? Are there any discounts?  –  It was important for me to again find any bargains possible with the absolutely ridiculously high prices in London. I found out what the cheapest options are of travelling with Oyster card and how does it work. My friends also told me about a Railcard, which is a discount card for people aged 16-25 and provides you with 30% discount on rail travel. There are different kinds of this Railcard as well, so depending on your situation you can look for various options. Any student discounts were not applicable to me, but if you are student it’s good to enquire what is or is not available for you in a given country.

 

If you have the experience of moving abroad as well, what are the things you wish you’d asked before your move? 

adaptation Culture shock expat living list Personal tips
Previous Story5 ways to make a new expat team member feel welcome
Next StoryWe all label ourselves anyway

Related Articles:

  • dive-in-or-stay-confused-projectabroadblog
    D.I.V.E. in with awareness or stay confused
  • culture-shock-adaptation-stages-projectabroadblog-marta-zielinska
    Culture shock – how to recognise it and what to do about it

Author

Marta Zielińska

Hi, my name is Marta. I am combining my psychological, business and intercultural experience to offer advice on successful living and working across cultures. I believe that everything is possible for such an ambitious and talented person as yourself! With some exercises, self-reflection and new knowledge, you can grow your cultural intelligence and build a successful international career, mind and life.

Learn more

Recent Posts

  • D.I.V.E. in with awareness or stay confused
  • How to stay connected with family and friends when living abroad
  • Are you experiencing identity crisis while living abroad?
  • Temporary move which turned out to be a longer-term international adventure – Claudia’s Spanish story
  • I knew I should expect something different – a story of an American teacher-turned-writer in Spain

Instagram

It won’t always be like that. #mayonthemove2022 - Words of Wisdom

Those of you who follow me for a while will know this one. It’s a saying that my friend’s grandma used to tell and it resonated powerfully with me. 

💪 It motivates me to power through the tough times, reminding me that it won’t always be like that. 
It won’t always be difficult, the bad times will pass as well. 

🧘‍♀️It also keeps me grounded. It won’t always be like that so appreciate what you have, express gratitude for all the good in your life each day, seize the good moments that happen. 

 #expatcoaching #expatlife #livingabroad #expatcoach #workingabroad #lifeabroad #workabroad #careerabroad #internationallife #internationalcareer #globalcareer #globallife #globalleaders #culturalawareness #selfawareness #selfgrowth #personalgrowth #personaldevelopment #culturalcompetence #movingabroad #zyciezagranica #zycienaemigracji #pracazagranica #rozwojosobisty #polacyzagranica
projectabroadblog
projectabroadblog
•
Follow
It won’t always be like that. #mayonthemove2022 - Words of Wisdom Those of you who follow me for a while will know this one. It’s a saying that my friend’s grandma used to tell and it resonated powerfully with me. 💪 It motivates me to power through the tough times, reminding me that it won’t always be like that. It won’t always be difficult, the bad times will pass as well. 🧘‍♀️It also keeps me grounded. It won’t always be like that so appreciate what you have, express gratitude for all the good in your life each day, seize the good moments that happen. #expatcoaching #expatlife #livingabroad #expatcoach #workingabroad #lifeabroad #workabroad #careerabroad #internationallife #internationalcareer #globalcareer #globallife #globalleaders #culturalawareness #selfawareness #selfgrowth #personalgrowth #personaldevelopment #culturalcompetence #movingabroad #zyciezagranica #zycienaemigracji #pracazagranica #rozwojosobisty #polacyzagranica
2 days ago
View on Instagram |
1/9
It can be SOO easy to fall into the trap of other people's expectations of what it's like living abroad and showing that 'expected' life in social media. ⁠
You know, the working-from-the-beach, the seeing-the-world, the earning-lots-of-money, the living-your-life stuff. 🙄⁠
⁠
But - - we all know that while we chose a life abroad for a reason, it's not all rainbows and unicorns. 🦄⁠
⁠
It's simply life. ⁠
⁠
With its ups and downs. ⁠
⁠
And yes, we may choose to only show nice bits of it here on Instagram. But just make sure that you do take the time to build those truly nice moments abroad, versus just trying to meet expectations of how others think you should live.⁠
⁠
If you're stuck - you know where to find me 😊 ⁠
(in case you don't - simply DM me here!)⁠
⁠
⁠
#expatcoaching #expatlife #livingabroad #expatcoach #workingabroad #lifeabroad #workabroad #careerabroad #internationallife #internationalcareer #globalcareer #globallife #globalleaders #culturalawareness #selfawareness #selfgrowth #personalgrowth #personaldevelopment #culturalcompetence #movingabroad #zyciezagranica #zycienaemigracji #pracazagranica #rozwojosobisty #polacyzagranica
projectabroadblog
projectabroadblog
•
Follow
It can be SOO easy to fall into the trap of other people's expectations of what it's like living abroad and showing that 'expected' life in social media. ⁠ You know, the working-from-the-beach, the seeing-the-world, the earning-lots-of-money, the living-your-life stuff. 🙄⁠ ⁠ But - - we all know that while we chose a life abroad for a reason, it's not all rainbows and unicorns. 🦄⁠ ⁠ It's simply life. ⁠ ⁠ With its ups and downs. ⁠ ⁠ And yes, we may choose to only show nice bits of it here on Instagram. But just make sure that you do take the time to build those truly nice moments abroad, versus just trying to meet expectations of how others think you should live.⁠ ⁠ If you're stuck - you know where to find me 😊 ⁠ (in case you don't - simply DM me here!)⁠ ⁠ ⁠ #expatcoaching #expatlife #livingabroad #expatcoach #workingabroad #lifeabroad #workabroad #careerabroad #internationallife #internationalcareer #globalcareer #globallife #globalleaders #culturalawareness #selfawareness #selfgrowth #personalgrowth #personaldevelopment #culturalcompetence #movingabroad #zyciezagranica #zycienaemigracji #pracazagranica #rozwojosobisty #polacyzagranica
4 days ago
View on Instagram |
2/9
We each have different thresholds of how much stress we can take. 
#mayonthemove2022 

It’s sometimes easy to judge others or yourself in situations of stress overwhelm. 

There was a time when I burst into tears in the middle of a workshop role play. 
And a time when during a company event I stood on the side counting minutes until I can leave. 
And a time when I was speaking and acting very fast. 
And a time when I made a mistake.

I’ve heard phrases like
“Unprofessional”…
“Immature”…
“Anti-social”…
“Too sensitive”…
I was told to “learn to prioritise” and “control my emotions to be like a swan who swims smoothly on the surface but moves its legs fast under the water surface”. 

When I was being told the above things, these particular people didn’t ask how I am, what’s going on, or how they can support me 🤷‍♀️

Can you guess what time of my life these examples come from? Yep, this all happened within the first three months of my move abroad. Not to say that it can’t happen in any other scenario, but for me that was a particularly stressful period of time.

Too many changes at once, too many stressors, too many transitions, a lot of new stimuli, and work pressures added on top of that. 

There’s a limit as to how much we can all take on. 

At some point the smallest additional pressures can feel like unbearable burdens. We can get more anxious and more easily triggered. 

And it’s great if we then have the opportunity to regulate these emotions in a safe and supportive space with colleagues or friends. Instead of suppressing them and pretending that it’s all ok. 

I was lucky enough to meet also these supportive people on my way 🙂 

What are some unhelpful things you’ve heard from people in stressful moments? Let’s craft an “anti-guide” together! 

#expatcoaching #expatlife #livingabroad #expatcoach #workingabroad #lifeabroad #workabroad #careerabroad #internationallife #internationalcareer #globalcareer #globallife #globalleaders #culturalawareness #selfawareness #selfgrowth #personalgrowth #personaldevelopment #culturalcompetence #movingabroad #zyciezagranica #zycienaemigracji #pracazagranica #rozwojosobisty #polacyzagranica
projectabroadblog
projectabroadblog
•
Follow
We each have different thresholds of how much stress we can take. #mayonthemove2022 It’s sometimes easy to judge others or yourself in situations of stress overwhelm. There was a time when I burst into tears in the middle of a workshop role play. And a time when during a company event I stood on the side counting minutes until I can leave. And a time when I was speaking and acting very fast. And a time when I made a mistake. I’ve heard phrases like “Unprofessional”… “Immature”… “Anti-social”… “Too sensitive”… I was told to “learn to prioritise” and “control my emotions to be like a swan who swims smoothly on the surface but moves its legs fast under the water surface”. When I was being told the above things, these particular people didn’t ask how I am, what’s going on, or how they can support me 🤷‍♀️ Can you guess what time of my life these examples come from? Yep, this all happened within the first three months of my move abroad. Not to say that it can’t happen in any other scenario, but for me that was a particularly stressful period of time. Too many changes at once, too many stressors, too many transitions, a lot of new stimuli, and work pressures added on top of that. There’s a limit as to how much we can all take on. At some point the smallest additional pressures can feel like unbearable burdens. We can get more anxious and more easily triggered. And it’s great if we then have the opportunity to regulate these emotions in a safe and supportive space with colleagues or friends. Instead of suppressing them and pretending that it’s all ok. I was lucky enough to meet also these supportive people on my way 🙂 What are some unhelpful things you’ve heard from people in stressful moments? Let’s craft an “anti-guide” together! #expatcoaching #expatlife #livingabroad #expatcoach #workingabroad #lifeabroad #workabroad #careerabroad #internationallife #internationalcareer #globalcareer #globallife #globalleaders #culturalawareness #selfawareness #selfgrowth #personalgrowth #personaldevelopment #culturalcompetence #movingabroad #zyciezagranica #zycienaemigracji #pracazagranica #rozwojosobisty #polacyzagranica
1 week ago
View on Instagram |
3/9
Isn’t it a delightful discovery when you find some extra change in the pocket of the spring jacket you’ve just taken out of the wardrobe after a long winter?
#mayonthemove2022 

Ok, admittedly, today’s prompt took me to a funny place! 🙈

First thing that came to my mind was about that jacket. Likely because I’ve recently organised my wardrobe and have had such delightful discovery of a 5£ note in my pocket! Only a good excuse to take someone out for a walk and a nice coffee! ❤️

You know what’s NOT a delightful discovery of this kind though, that I hated when I was at school? Finding an old rotten banana in the backpack after the whole summer break while preparing for the first day of school again! Please tell me I was not the only one… 

Ok, I’ll stop now 😅 
What was your delightful discovery recently?

#expatlife #mindwonders #lifeabroad #livingabroad #workingabroad #careerabroad #internationallife #personalgrowth #reflectiontime #funnythoughts
projectabroadblog
projectabroadblog
•
Follow
Isn’t it a delightful discovery when you find some extra change in the pocket of the spring jacket you’ve just taken out of the wardrobe after a long winter? #mayonthemove2022 Ok, admittedly, today’s prompt took me to a funny place! 🙈 First thing that came to my mind was about that jacket. Likely because I’ve recently organised my wardrobe and have had such delightful discovery of a 5£ note in my pocket! Only a good excuse to take someone out for a walk and a nice coffee! ❤️ You know what’s NOT a delightful discovery of this kind though, that I hated when I was at school? Finding an old rotten banana in the backpack after the whole summer break while preparing for the first day of school again! Please tell me I was not the only one… Ok, I’ll stop now 😅 What was your delightful discovery recently? #expatlife #mindwonders #lifeabroad #livingabroad #workingabroad #careerabroad #internationallife #personalgrowth #reflectiontime #funnythoughts
1 week ago
View on Instagram |
4/9
Country Borders are an artificial concept, and yet they have so much impact on how the world functions.
#mayonthemove2022 

✍️So many borders in the world have been created by some guys drawing a line on a map. 

🏔Others have been agreed to run alongside rivers or mountains. 

👨‍👨‍👧‍👦They’re supposed to facilitate functioning of societies with similar cultural backgrounds, to follow similar laws and ways of living, and create a sense of belonging. That sense of belonging though can also escalate with the “us” and “them” mentality. 

Yet still, there are so many social groups within these country borders who are marginalised, or are actually historically closer to another society just on the other side of that border. 

I don’t have any conclusion to these thoughts today, really. 🤷‍♀️ It’s just another thought-provoking prompt from @thefrustratednester and @mother_city_time who are the authors of #mayonthemove2022 challenge, so thank you for that!

📚I do have a super interesting read to recommend though, really worth a read! It’s “Prisoners of geography” by Tim Marshall - it explains how geographical location of a society/country impacts its history, and was an eye opening read for me.

#expatcoaching #expatlife #livingabroad #expatcoach #workingabroad #lifeabroad #workabroad #careerabroad #internationallife #internationalcareer #globalcareer #globallife #globalleaders #culturalawareness #selfawareness #selfgrowth #personalgrowth #personaldevelopment #culturalcompetence #movingabroad #zyciezagranica #zycienaemigracji #pracazagranica #rozwojosobisty #polacyzagranica
projectabroadblog
projectabroadblog
•
Follow
Country Borders are an artificial concept, and yet they have so much impact on how the world functions. #mayonthemove2022 ✍️So many borders in the world have been created by some guys drawing a line on a map. 🏔Others have been agreed to run alongside rivers or mountains. 👨‍👨‍👧‍👦They’re supposed to facilitate functioning of societies with similar cultural backgrounds, to follow similar laws and ways of living, and create a sense of belonging. That sense of belonging though can also escalate with the “us” and “them” mentality. Yet still, there are so many social groups within these country borders who are marginalised, or are actually historically closer to another society just on the other side of that border. I don’t have any conclusion to these thoughts today, really. 🤷‍♀️ It’s just another thought-provoking prompt from @thefrustratednester and @mother_city_time who are the authors of #mayonthemove2022 challenge, so thank you for that! 📚I do have a super interesting read to recommend though, really worth a read! It’s “Prisoners of geography” by Tim Marshall - it explains how geographical location of a society/country impacts its history, and was an eye opening read for me. #expatcoaching #expatlife #livingabroad #expatcoach #workingabroad #lifeabroad #workabroad #careerabroad #internationallife #internationalcareer #globalcareer #globallife #globalleaders #culturalawareness #selfawareness #selfgrowth #personalgrowth #personaldevelopment #culturalcompetence #movingabroad #zyciezagranica #zycienaemigracji #pracazagranica #rozwojosobisty #polacyzagranica
2 weeks ago
View on Instagram |
5/9
Challenge is a way to grow, but too much challenge can be overwhelming. 
#mayonthemove2022 

Is it obvious? For some of us, perhaps 🤷‍♀️ But for many of us it’s a useful reminder every once in a while. 

We are surrounded by messages encouraging us to be ambitious, develop, challenge ourselves, go outside of our comfort zone. Even mindfulness or self-care activities are featured as “30-day challenges”! 🙈

It can be a nice motivator when we need that kind of push and they can be quite effective as well in helping us build new habits.

👉 Too little challenge can be demotivating, boring. Too much challenge can generate excessive stress. 

I know that I’ve been on both sides for sure. And that “too much” one was not fun at all. 
But I’ve also been in the optimal challenge levels too when I was growing and learning new skills, fulfilling my ambitions, and having lots of satisfaction along the way. 

The latest one was when I needed to discuss with my leadership a change idea that I was passionate about, and get their buy-in. Being in the middle, all eyes on me, ideas challenged and questions asked was challenging for me of course, but I was prepared, had well thought through argumentation and was open to listen to their suggestions to find the best possible way forward. 

I invite you to listen to your body and analyse your thoughts around challenging situations. They can be a super helpful source of information which can help you find the sweet spot of the optimal challenge when you need it, but also to retreat when you feel it’s too much. 

👂What was one recent situation where you were challenged just enough and grew through the experience?

#expatlife #lifeabroad #expatchallenges #selfawareness #selfdevelopment #selfcare #personaldevelopment #globallife #globalleadership
projectabroadblog
projectabroadblog
•
Follow
Challenge is a way to grow, but too much challenge can be overwhelming. #mayonthemove2022 Is it obvious? For some of us, perhaps 🤷‍♀️ But for many of us it’s a useful reminder every once in a while. We are surrounded by messages encouraging us to be ambitious, develop, challenge ourselves, go outside of our comfort zone. Even mindfulness or self-care activities are featured as “30-day challenges”! 🙈 It can be a nice motivator when we need that kind of push and they can be quite effective as well in helping us build new habits. 👉 Too little challenge can be demotivating, boring. Too much challenge can generate excessive stress. I know that I’ve been on both sides for sure. And that “too much” one was not fun at all. But I’ve also been in the optimal challenge levels too when I was growing and learning new skills, fulfilling my ambitions, and having lots of satisfaction along the way. The latest one was when I needed to discuss with my leadership a change idea that I was passionate about, and get their buy-in. Being in the middle, all eyes on me, ideas challenged and questions asked was challenging for me of course, but I was prepared, had well thought through argumentation and was open to listen to their suggestions to find the best possible way forward. I invite you to listen to your body and analyse your thoughts around challenging situations. They can be a super helpful source of information which can help you find the sweet spot of the optimal challenge when you need it, but also to retreat when you feel it’s too much. 👂What was one recent situation where you were challenged just enough and grew through the experience? #expatlife #lifeabroad #expatchallenges #selfawareness #selfdevelopment #selfcare #personaldevelopment #globallife #globalleadership
2 weeks ago
View on Instagram |
6/9
A day in... is not something I mind at all.
#mayonthemove2022 

I consider myself to be very close towards the introvert side of the scale. I like to be around people, but preferably smaller groups for more meaningful discussions. After a night out or big events or concerts (and there really aren't so many these days 😃) I need the time to recharge. 

When pandemic started, internet got full of funny memes about that of course - I love internet in the moments of crisis, it has its bad sides in general but was really cheering me up when the world first "locked-down".

A perfect solitary recharging day-in includes:
☕️Coffee - preferably with something sweet too
👗Organising things in the house
Watching a lighthearted movie
🥗Having a nice meal
✍️Writing something for you guys for the blog, newsletter or instagram posts
📖Reading a book
In short - lots of relaxing and self-care activities.

What about you? If you have a day in, how do you like to spend it?

 #expatlife #introvertlife #introvertexpat #livingabroad #movingabroad #lifeabroad #careerabroad #globalcareer #globallife #internationallife #internationalcareer #culturalawareness #polacyzagranica #polacynaemigracji
A day in... is not something I mind at all.
#mayonthemove2022 

I consider myself to be very close towards the introvert side of the scale. I like to be around people, but preferably smaller groups for more meaningful discussions. After a night out or big events or concerts (and there really aren't so many these days 😃) I need the time to recharge. 

When pandemic started, internet got full of funny memes about that of course - I love internet in the moments of crisis, it has its bad sides in general but was really cheering me up when the world first "locked-down".

A perfect solitary recharging day-in includes:
☕️Coffee - preferably with something sweet too
👗Organising things in the house
Watching a lighthearted movie
🥗Having a nice meal
✍️Writing something for you guys for the blog, newsletter or instagram posts
📖Reading a book
In short - lots of relaxing and self-care activities.

What about you? If you have a day in, how do you like to spend it?

 #expatlife #introvertlife #introvertexpat #livingabroad #movingabroad #lifeabroad #careerabroad #globalcareer #globallife #internationallife #internationalcareer #culturalawareness #polacyzagranica #polacynaemigracji
A day in... is not something I mind at all.
#mayonthemove2022 

I consider myself to be very close towards the introvert side of the scale. I like to be around people, but preferably smaller groups for more meaningful discussions. After a night out or big events or concerts (and there really aren't so many these days 😃) I need the time to recharge. 

When pandemic started, internet got full of funny memes about that of course - I love internet in the moments of crisis, it has its bad sides in general but was really cheering me up when the world first "locked-down".

A perfect solitary recharging day-in includes:
☕️Coffee - preferably with something sweet too
👗Organising things in the house
Watching a lighthearted movie
🥗Having a nice meal
✍️Writing something for you guys for the blog, newsletter or instagram posts
📖Reading a book
In short - lots of relaxing and self-care activities.

What about you? If you have a day in, how do you like to spend it?

 #expatlife #introvertlife #introvertexpat #livingabroad #movingabroad #lifeabroad #careerabroad #globalcareer #globallife #internationallife #internationalcareer #culturalawareness #polacyzagranica #polacynaemigracji
A day in... is not something I mind at all.
#mayonthemove2022 

I consider myself to be very close towards the introvert side of the scale. I like to be around people, but preferably smaller groups for more meaningful discussions. After a night out or big events or concerts (and there really aren't so many these days 😃) I need the time to recharge. 

When pandemic started, internet got full of funny memes about that of course - I love internet in the moments of crisis, it has its bad sides in general but was really cheering me up when the world first "locked-down".

A perfect solitary recharging day-in includes:
☕️Coffee - preferably with something sweet too
👗Organising things in the house
Watching a lighthearted movie
🥗Having a nice meal
✍️Writing something for you guys for the blog, newsletter or instagram posts
📖Reading a book
In short - lots of relaxing and self-care activities.

What about you? If you have a day in, how do you like to spend it?

 #expatlife #introvertlife #introvertexpat #livingabroad #movingabroad #lifeabroad #careerabroad #globalcareer #globallife #internationallife #internationalcareer #culturalawareness #polacyzagranica #polacynaemigracji
projectabroadblog
projectabroadblog
•
Follow
A day in... is not something I mind at all. #mayonthemove2022 I consider myself to be very close towards the introvert side of the scale. I like to be around people, but preferably smaller groups for more meaningful discussions. After a night out or big events or concerts (and there really aren't so many these days 😃) I need the time to recharge. When pandemic started, internet got full of funny memes about that of course - I love internet in the moments of crisis, it has its bad sides in general but was really cheering me up when the world first "locked-down". A perfect solitary recharging day-in includes: ☕️Coffee - preferably with something sweet too 👗Organising things in the house Watching a lighthearted movie 🥗Having a nice meal ✍️Writing something for you guys for the blog, newsletter or instagram posts 📖Reading a book In short - lots of relaxing and self-care activities. What about you? If you have a day in, how do you like to spend it? #expatlife #introvertlife #introvertexpat #livingabroad #movingabroad #lifeabroad #careerabroad #globalcareer #globallife #internationallife #internationalcareer #culturalawareness #polacyzagranica #polacynaemigracji
2 weeks ago
View on Instagram |
7/9
And it requires a conscious effort to open them as well - it won't happen on its own! You're in charge of opening your mind :) ⁠
⁠
⁠
⁠
#expatcoaching #expatlife #livingabroad #expatcoach #workingabroad #lifeabroad #workabroad #careerabroad #internationallife #internationalcareer #globalcareer #globallife #globalleaders #culturalawareness #selfawareness #selfgrowth #personalgrowth #personaldevelopment #culturalcompetence #movingabroad #zyciezagranica #zycienaemigracji #pracazagranica #rozwojosobisty #leadershipmotivation
projectabroadblog
projectabroadblog
•
Follow
And it requires a conscious effort to open them as well - it won't happen on its own! You're in charge of opening your mind :) ⁠ ⁠ ⁠ ⁠ #expatcoaching #expatlife #livingabroad #expatcoach #workingabroad #lifeabroad #workabroad #careerabroad #internationallife #internationalcareer #globalcareer #globallife #globalleaders #culturalawareness #selfawareness #selfgrowth #personalgrowth #personaldevelopment #culturalcompetence #movingabroad #zyciezagranica #zycienaemigracji #pracazagranica #rozwojosobisty #leadershipmotivation
3 weeks ago
View on Instagram |
8/9
This is me, now #mayonthemove2022

Very excited to be taking part in this connectivity initiative once again 🙂 
I'm a psychologist, coach and trainer. Basically – I love working with people and seeing them grow😊
By day, I work full time as People & Culture Partner in a scale-up company. In evenings and weekends I run Project Abroad to help expats understand the cultures they're working with, how their own cultural background impacts their expat experience, and (most importantly) what they can do about it to make their experience more comfortable.

🤩I deeply care about you not just having 'an ok experience' abroad.  
I want you to really achieve the goals you have set for yourself abroad. And feel confident in the process! 
  
🤩I am practical and structured about approaching challenges.  
People I coach often come to me with a whole lot of thoughts, doubts, challenges and feelings. Confused about what is causing them to feel like this, or what to do next. Step by step we untangle these, make sense of the experience and create a tangible plan to move their lives forward. 
  
🤩I see value in learning about cultural dimensions for personal development. 
This knowledge helps you understand where some of the frustrations may be coming from. It helps you gain more self-awareness and identify the similarities you can build on when working internationally. It's a great starting point to a conversation about adaptation to a new place as well as increasing the feeling of confidence and belonging to the new location.

🤩I believe that if you're aware of something, you can do something about it.
Self-awareness for me is the first step to any transition, be it moving to another country, starting a new job or moving to the next phase of life. If you're not aware of what the underlying issue is, you can't really do much about it. But when you shine some light on it, everything seems more achievable. 

🚶‍♀️In my spare time I walk a lot, every day, with an audiobook or podcast in my ears. 
✍️My recent lockdown hobby also includes colour pencil drawing.

#expatcoach #livingabroad #lifeabroad #polacyzagranica #polishexpats #careerabroad #globalcareer #globallife
This is me, now #mayonthemove2022

Very excited to be taking part in this connectivity initiative once again 🙂 
I'm a psychologist, coach and trainer. Basically – I love working with people and seeing them grow😊
By day, I work full time as People & Culture Partner in a scale-up company. In evenings and weekends I run Project Abroad to help expats understand the cultures they're working with, how their own cultural background impacts their expat experience, and (most importantly) what they can do about it to make their experience more comfortable.

🤩I deeply care about you not just having 'an ok experience' abroad.  
I want you to really achieve the goals you have set for yourself abroad. And feel confident in the process! 
  
🤩I am practical and structured about approaching challenges.  
People I coach often come to me with a whole lot of thoughts, doubts, challenges and feelings. Confused about what is causing them to feel like this, or what to do next. Step by step we untangle these, make sense of the experience and create a tangible plan to move their lives forward. 
  
🤩I see value in learning about cultural dimensions for personal development. 
This knowledge helps you understand where some of the frustrations may be coming from. It helps you gain more self-awareness and identify the similarities you can build on when working internationally. It's a great starting point to a conversation about adaptation to a new place as well as increasing the feeling of confidence and belonging to the new location.

🤩I believe that if you're aware of something, you can do something about it.
Self-awareness for me is the first step to any transition, be it moving to another country, starting a new job or moving to the next phase of life. If you're not aware of what the underlying issue is, you can't really do much about it. But when you shine some light on it, everything seems more achievable. 

🚶‍♀️In my spare time I walk a lot, every day, with an audiobook or podcast in my ears. 
✍️My recent lockdown hobby also includes colour pencil drawing.

#expatcoach #livingabroad #lifeabroad #polacyzagranica #polishexpats #careerabroad #globalcareer #globallife
This is me, now #mayonthemove2022

Very excited to be taking part in this connectivity initiative once again 🙂 
I'm a psychologist, coach and trainer. Basically – I love working with people and seeing them grow😊
By day, I work full time as People & Culture Partner in a scale-up company. In evenings and weekends I run Project Abroad to help expats understand the cultures they're working with, how their own cultural background impacts their expat experience, and (most importantly) what they can do about it to make their experience more comfortable.

🤩I deeply care about you not just having 'an ok experience' abroad.  
I want you to really achieve the goals you have set for yourself abroad. And feel confident in the process! 
  
🤩I am practical and structured about approaching challenges.  
People I coach often come to me with a whole lot of thoughts, doubts, challenges and feelings. Confused about what is causing them to feel like this, or what to do next. Step by step we untangle these, make sense of the experience and create a tangible plan to move their lives forward. 
  
🤩I see value in learning about cultural dimensions for personal development. 
This knowledge helps you understand where some of the frustrations may be coming from. It helps you gain more self-awareness and identify the similarities you can build on when working internationally. It's a great starting point to a conversation about adaptation to a new place as well as increasing the feeling of confidence and belonging to the new location.

🤩I believe that if you're aware of something, you can do something about it.
Self-awareness for me is the first step to any transition, be it moving to another country, starting a new job or moving to the next phase of life. If you're not aware of what the underlying issue is, you can't really do much about it. But when you shine some light on it, everything seems more achievable. 

🚶‍♀️In my spare time I walk a lot, every day, with an audiobook or podcast in my ears. 
✍️My recent lockdown hobby also includes colour pencil drawing.

#expatcoach #livingabroad #lifeabroad #polacyzagranica #polishexpats #careerabroad #globalcareer #globallife
projectabroadblog
projectabroadblog
•
Follow
This is me, now #mayonthemove2022 Very excited to be taking part in this connectivity initiative once again 🙂 I'm a psychologist, coach and trainer. Basically – I love working with people and seeing them grow😊 By day, I work full time as People & Culture Partner in a scale-up company. In evenings and weekends I run Project Abroad to help expats understand the cultures they're working with, how their own cultural background impacts their expat experience, and (most importantly) what they can do about it to make their experience more comfortable. 🤩I deeply care about you not just having 'an ok experience' abroad.  I want you to really achieve the goals you have set for yourself abroad. And feel confident in the process!   🤩I am practical and structured about approaching challenges.  People I coach often come to me with a whole lot of thoughts, doubts, challenges and feelings. Confused about what is causing them to feel like this, or what to do next. Step by step we untangle these, make sense of the experience and create a tangible plan to move their lives forward.   🤩I see value in learning about cultural dimensions for personal development. This knowledge helps you understand where some of the frustrations may be coming from. It helps you gain more self-awareness and identify the similarities you can build on when working internationally. It's a great starting point to a conversation about adaptation to a new place as well as increasing the feeling of confidence and belonging to the new location. 🤩I believe that if you're aware of something, you can do something about it. Self-awareness for me is the first step to any transition, be it moving to another country, starting a new job or moving to the next phase of life. If you're not aware of what the underlying issue is, you can't really do much about it. But when you shine some light on it, everything seems more achievable. 🚶‍♀️In my spare time I walk a lot, every day, with an audiobook or podcast in my ears. ✍️My recent lockdown hobby also includes colour pencil drawing. #expatcoach #livingabroad #lifeabroad #polacyzagranica #polishexpats #careerabroad #globalcareer #globallife
3 weeks ago
View on Instagram |
9/9
View on Instagram

ProjectAbroad on Facebook

Project Abroad

 

PRIVACY POLICY

© Copyright Project Abroad 2016. Designed and cared by Kasia Aleszczyk