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Homepage > Expat life > I knew I should expect something different – a story of an American teacher-turned-writer in Spain
August 16, 2020 In Expat life

I knew I should expect something different – a story of an American teacher-turned-writer in Spain

sincerelyspain-dani-story-teacher-turned-writer-in-spain

I have the absolute pleasure to bring a guest writer to Project Abroad. Dani will share with you her story of moving across countries and finding her feet in Spain.

Dani is one-half of the Sincerely, Spain blog which is a website that discusses culture, travel, and life abroad in Spain. Along with her colleague Claudia, she provides insights about adapting to the Spanish lifestyle, learning a new language, and thriving wherever you find yourself. Dani is originally from Chicago, USA and studied a double-major in Sociology and Hispanic Studies in the United States. While pursuing her degree, she completed one semester of study in Alicante, Spain. From that first experience, Spain had her heart. Since then, Dani has lived abroad for seven years and has called Granada, Spain home for most of those. She is currently a writer, an avid reader, and an obsessive podcast-listener.

Over to you, Dani! 🙂

***

Although I studied abroad in Alicante, Spain, from January-June of 2011 I consider September 2013 the first time I “really” moved abroad. As instrumental as my first experience was during university, I think almost anyone who has done a short-term study abroad program would agree that it isn’t “real life” in the sense that most things are organized for you (in my case I lived in a homestay with a Spanish family) and you have very few responsibilities. My experience was that the course of study, which I did fully in Spanish, was still difficult but outside of that, my time was mostly spent just soaking up the culture, sun, and Spanish drinks. Thus, when I decided to return to Spain after I graduated, I knew that I should expect something different…I just didn’t know exactly what to expect!

My first years in Spain

I decided to accept a position as language assistant through CIEE branch of the popular auxiliaresde conversación y cultura program (English language conversation and culture assistants). This meant that my first year living abroad in Spain felt a bit like a stepping stone.

On one hand, I had returned under circumstances in which I would need to find my own lodging, set up a bank account, and apply for my resident card on my own. At the same time, I had the peace of mind that comes with already having a job securedas well as using an American-run company, which meant that I had had some useful assistance when applying for my visa back in the US and an orientation upon arrival.

That first year went pretty smoothly, all things considered. I had been assigned to teach in a public elementary school in a tiny village a forty-five-minute drive from the city center. The principal and other staff members were extremely helpful in providing advice about where I should live, guaranteeing that I would have someone to carpool to work with regardless of where I chose. Although I considered some smaller cities and towns closer to school, my heart was set on Granada. I am so glad I chose to live in the main city, where I was able to meet a number of good friends I still have today and make connections that would come in handy later on in my life abroad.

This most certainly would never happen in an American classroom…

While I can’t speak much about the experience of working in a typical business environment in Spain, I certainly learned a lot about the way the school system and educational culture works. As someone from the United States, I was used to a rather formal, authoritative approach. At least in the rural area of southern Spain where I worked, the culture was very different!

The students all addressed their teachers by first name and many seemed to have a very informal relationship with the teachers. Just walking up to them (rather than raising their hands) when they needed something, nestling in close or even sitting on their teachers’ laps when getting help, and giving them hugs at the start or end of the school day.

This most certainly would never happen in an American classroom!

The U.S. literally has laws against it so it was very difficult at first for me to get comfortable with having so much physical contact with my students. With time, I came to appreciate the openness and affection.

The relationships among the staff was also quite informal. I have never worked at a public school in the U.S. so I can’t speak from personal experience but in my schoolsgrowing up there was always a separation between the administration and the teaching staff. The principal’s office was located in a completely different area from the teacher’s lounge.

But not in Spain.

At the elementary school where I worked, there was an office within the teachers’ lounge that was officially the principal’s and another one for her secretary but most often these doors were left open and teachers entered and exited as they wished. It was a small school so no one had their own office space, and everyone would gather around one big table during the recess break.

I had a wonderful first year living in Granada and truly felt like I had found my home but I wanted to be sure it wasn’t just the thrill of living in any foreign-language country that I enjoyed. For this reason, I didn’t re-apply to work the same job the following year. Instead, I returned to the U.S. and spent some time living and teaching in Costa Rica in 2014.

But by September 2015, I was on the road back to Granada…

Moving back to Spain

I considered all of my same options this time around. I even spoke with my former principal about my intentions, getting a letter of recommendation from her and applying to the auxiliares program again, with the hopes of getting placed at the same school. However, because I was not technically considered a “second year applicant” (it would have needed to be consecutive years), I did not get a position at the same school.

Although disappointed, I did not lose hope about what this meant for me in terms of Granada. I was now certain that I wanted to return to “my” city, not just anywhere in Spain, and so I started reaching out to the friends I still had in the area.

Word-of-mouth in Spain is worth a lot

In many cases here, it truly is who you know, not what you know and I was pretty confident thatconnecting with the right contacts would set me up for success. It certainly did.

I reached out to one of the families where I had taught private lessons during my first year and they were more than happy to have me back as their kids’ English tutor, as well as to pass on my details to their friends. I also lucked out because one of my closest friends (also an American and an English teacher) was moving out of Granada with her family that year and therefore leaving her job at a language academy. While her boss was sad to see her go, she was happy to offer me the job – without ever having met me! – merely on my friend’s recommendation. Almost overnight, my plans were sorted.

I’ve found that (at least in Granada) it is very common when you work for individual families or family-run businesses for them to ask you to find a replacement, or at least make some recommendations when you leave a teaching position. This may be a more common practice in the last decade or two because there are so many expat / teach-in-Spain / auxiliares groups online. For this reason, we’re generally pretty well-connected to other native English-speakers who may be interested in the job.

Perhaps it seems like an outdated way of thinking to some of us, but I’ve found that all the people I’ve worked for here in Spain highly value personal recommendations. I’ve spoken with a former boss on numerous occasions when she was deciding between a teacher with an impressive resume and one with less experience, but who came recommended and her argument against the teacher with the flawless CV was always “but I don’t know them!” She also didn’t know me when she hired me, but she trusted someone who trusted me and that meant everything.

Finding those next steps in Granada

Since returning to Granada in the autumn of 2015 to give private lessonsand work at that family-run language academy, I have shifted my focus a few times. As more and more families sought me out for private lessons (almost all on the recommendation on that first family!) I decided to leave the academy and work primarily online in the mornings, giving private lessons in the evenings. When I moved to the other side of the city (and the commute became 45 minutes to and from my private lessons), I eventually transitioned to teaching fully online. Since then, I have left teaching altogether and embarked on my writing career full-time.

Although I have essentially removed myself from the Spanish educational scene poco a poco (bit by bit), it is not for a lack of enjoying it. I really liked how familial and close-knit my experience was. It was a bit difficult to “break into” the system at first, as I needed to go through a formal program or be introduced by someone, but once I was “in” everyone treated me like family. To this day, the family that runs the academy I once worked at, and the families I once taught private lessons to, are some of my biggest supporters.

They still regularly reach out to congratulate me on my successes, such as the first book I just published, and remind me that I can turn to them if I ever need help with anything. I recognize that my experience teaching in southern Spain—and, particularly, a city that has more of a small town feel—may not be the same as someone working in a different sector in a different region of Spain, but I am oh so grateful for the intimate cultural experience I found for myself in here.

***

What a story, right?!

I also asked Dani what would she say her top three tips are for adapting to living in a new country. Here’s what she kindly shared with me:

1.Don’t get discouraged if your Plan A doesn’t work out. As you can tell from my story, it wasn’t always possible for me to do things the way I originally planned. Getting the auxiliares position a second time was the ideal situation for me because it was what I already knew and felt comfortable with. However, doors really opened for me when I decided to be open to different ideas, stepping outside of my comfort zone but adapting to what’s common in Spain. Allowing yourself to do the same will likely open you up to options that are perhaps better than your original plan, too!

2.Say yes to as much as you can. I refrain from suggesting “say yes to everything” because I know many of us (myself included) require downtime alone in order to thrive. Still, if there’s ever been a time to push your limits and be extra outgoing, moving to a new country is the time! Accept as many invitations as you can (and if you really need to take a break the day you’re invited out, decline but make a real commitment to spend time with the new friend on a different day). Not getting any invitation yet? Be the vulnerable person who asks their colleague to have lunch, a coffee, or a beer together. Seek out language exchanges and other meet-ups where you can find others looking to make connections too.

3. Hold true to who you are. There’s a difference between adapting to a new culture in a way that expands your awareness and assimilating in a way that involves losing track of who you really are. At the beginning, it can be exciting to try to fit in and “go with the flow”—for me in Spain, this has been accepting the no pasa nada approach to life. However, it’s okay to be who are! I’m not always feeling no pasa nada and I’m not always interested in going out dancing until 6 am and the friends I’ve made here understand that and accept me the way I am, just as your new friends will, too!

If you’d like to connect with Dani, it’s best to do via Instagram: @sincerelyspain or @dani_j_norwell 🙂

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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

  • Is moving abroad a good choice?
  • D.I.V.E. in with awareness or stay confused
  • How to stay connected with family and friends when living abroad
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  • Temporary move which turned out to be a longer-term international adventure – Claudia’s Spanish story

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It's important to remember that not everyone has lived abroad. This is equally relevant for expats and people who work with expats too.☝️⁠
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👉If you're an expat, acknowledging this can bring more patience into dealing with intercultural challenges you encounter. ⁠
⁠
You may not understand all the cultural aspects of your new reality, but similarly, people around you may not be familiar with your background! ⁠
⁠
It can also give you more courage to share what things are like where you come from or to ask some basic-sounding questions about the new location.⁠
⁠
👉If on the other hand you haven't lived abroad yourself, but work with people who are expats, acknowledging this can help you be more understanding and humble towards people you work with. ⁠
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For example, the amount of questions that seem obvious to you but the expat needs answers to, in order to understand the new context. ⁠
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It also gives you the opportunity to reciprocate with questions and learn things that you may not even have know interest you about the other person's culture!⁠
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So a question for you today is - what have you recently learnt from a person you work with, who comes from a different cultural background? 🤔⁠
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It's important to remember that not everyone has lived abroad. This is equally relevant for expats and people who work with expats too.☝️⁠ ⁠ 👉If you're an expat, acknowledging this can bring more patience into dealing with intercultural challenges you encounter. ⁠ ⁠ You may not understand all the cultural aspects of your new reality, but similarly, people around you may not be familiar with your background! ⁠ ⁠ It can also give you more courage to share what things are like where you come from or to ask some basic-sounding questions about the new location.⁠ ⁠ 👉If on the other hand you haven't lived abroad yourself, but work with people who are expats, acknowledging this can help you be more understanding and humble towards people you work with. ⁠ ⁠ For example, the amount of questions that seem obvious to you but the expat needs answers to, in order to understand the new context. ⁠ ⁠ It also gives you the opportunity to reciprocate with questions and learn things that you may not even have know interest you about the other person's culture!⁠ ⁠ ⁠ So a question for you today is - what have you recently learnt from a person you work with, who comes from a different cultural background? 🤔⁠ ⁠ ⁠ #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
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Oh the summertime... (for us in the northern hemisphere at least!)⁠
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Nice holidays, visiting new places, soaking in the sun, or the mountains or wherever you like to relax... ⁠
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Or... wait. But what if we have to choose between visiting home and going someplace new for holidays? What if we only get the 4 weeks of time off work and that's it? ⁠🤷‍♀️😞
⁠
Have you ever felt the guilt when choosing a new holiday destination instead of spending that extra week back home with family? Or worse, have you ever heard comments from your family that made you feel guilty of that?⁠🙄
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Well, for many of us it's the reality of life abroad. And it's tough. But it's also about choices and setting expectations. ⁠
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One thing to remember is that phones work both ways, planes fly both directions too. You don't always need to be the one making the tough choices. ⁠
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I get it, there are people who can't make the trip, maybe they're ill etc. But it's likely not all of your friends and family back home ☺️ You don’t need to take the whole blame. 

Share it with someone who may need that reminder today! 🤩
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Oh the summertime... (for us in the northern hemisphere at least!)⁠ ⁠ Nice holidays, visiting new places, soaking in the sun, or the mountains or wherever you like to relax... ⁠ ⁠ Or... wait. But what if we have to choose between visiting home and going someplace new for holidays? What if we only get the 4 weeks of time off work and that's it? ⁠🤷‍♀️😞 ⁠ Have you ever felt the guilt when choosing a new holiday destination instead of spending that extra week back home with family? Or worse, have you ever heard comments from your family that made you feel guilty of that?⁠🙄 ⁠ Well, for many of us it's the reality of life abroad. And it's tough. But it's also about choices and setting expectations. ⁠ ⁠ One thing to remember is that phones work both ways, planes fly both directions too. You don't always need to be the one making the tough choices. ⁠ ⁠ I get it, there are people who can't make the trip, maybe they're ill etc. But it's likely not all of your friends and family back home ☺️ You don’t need to take the whole blame. Share it with someone who may need that reminder today! 🤩 ⁠ #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 #settingboundaries #selfhelp #selfcare
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When we move abroad, often we experience an overwhelm of emotions and personal transformations. With a new job or role we've taken on as well, we want to perform and prove that leadership made the right choice in offering us this assignment abroad. ⁠
⁠
Ooph! High stakes. 😬⁠
⁠
But when we're unfamiliar with the new culture and/or didn't work on our cultural competences much before, we're likely to see a dip in our productivity. ⁠
⁠
And worse - we may get annoyed at ourselves and put even more pressure on, thinking we SHOULD be able to handle this. ⁠
⁠
Sounds familiar? 🙈⁠
⁠
Well, I'd say it's unreasonable, and maybe even dangerous to expect that you would be performing at equally high level in such a transitional time impacting your mental wellbeing. ⁠
⁠
👉The key is to re-calibrate what success looks like. ⁠
⁠
🤷‍♀️Maybe it's a success that you've completed a meeting in a whole new language without needing a translator. ⁠
⁠
🤷‍♀️Or maybe it's that you've simply delivered on the basics of what was expected of you. ⁠
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🤷‍♀️Or maybe it's that you have gotten out of bed (if it's that bad though, make sure to seek professional help when needed!). ⁠
⁠
"Cut yourself some slack", as they say, and adjust your expectations to the context. Life will get so much easier that way and you'll create the breathing space for you to learn, soak in the new experiences and grow!⁠

📬Sign up to the newsletter to download a workbook which will help you set your goals in the broader context of your needs in the life abroad. 
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When we move abroad, often we experience an overwhelm of emotions and personal transformations. With a new job or role we've taken on as well, we want to perform and prove that leadership made the right choice in offering us this assignment abroad. ⁠ ⁠ Ooph! High stakes. 😬⁠ ⁠ But when we're unfamiliar with the new culture and/or didn't work on our cultural competences much before, we're likely to see a dip in our productivity. ⁠ ⁠ And worse - we may get annoyed at ourselves and put even more pressure on, thinking we SHOULD be able to handle this. ⁠ ⁠ Sounds familiar? 🙈⁠ ⁠ Well, I'd say it's unreasonable, and maybe even dangerous to expect that you would be performing at equally high level in such a transitional time impacting your mental wellbeing. ⁠ ⁠ 👉The key is to re-calibrate what success looks like. ⁠ ⁠ 🤷‍♀️Maybe it's a success that you've completed a meeting in a whole new language without needing a translator. ⁠ ⁠ 🤷‍♀️Or maybe it's that you've simply delivered on the basics of what was expected of you. ⁠ ⁠ 🤷‍♀️Or maybe it's that you have gotten out of bed (if it's that bad though, make sure to seek professional help when needed!). ⁠ ⁠ "Cut yourself some slack", as they say, and adjust your expectations to the context. Life will get so much easier that way and you'll create the breathing space for you to learn, soak in the new experiences and grow!⁠ 📬Sign up to the newsletter to download a workbook which will help you set your goals in the broader context of your needs in the life abroad. ⁠ #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
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#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
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What's cultural intelligence? In short, it's an ability to be effective in various cultural contexts. To do that you need four competences:⁠
👍Openness to a different perspective (CQ Drive)⁠
👍Understanding of that other perspective (CQ Knowledge)⁠
👍Strategy to work together in spite of the differences (CQ Strategy)⁠
👍Flexibility to stick with our core and not losing ourselves in the process while also being effective and achieving the set goals (CQ Action)⁠
⁠
So - what can this look like in practice? ⁠
⁠
One of my coachees was Chinese and moved to the UK. He was challenged by the pace of the conversation here and the lack of space for him to speak up in meetings. The feedback he quickly started getting was that he needs to speak up more in meetings and contribute. ⁠
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Was it that he was unable to contribute ideas or literally speak up? 🤷No. It was more around the level of comfort, feeling that it's "wrong" to interrupt others or not to leave space before when one person speaks and the other starts. It was an internal struggle. So while it sound like a simple "just speak up!" 🙄solution, when we talk about intercultural adaptation, a lot of internal work goes into it. ⁠
⁠
How did he overcome his challenge? 🤔⁠
⁠
He was motivated to exploring the UK culture and learning more (Drive) and admitting that it's not 'stupid' or 'weird' but simply a different normal. ⁠
⁠
He learnt about cultural dimensions that may be at play here eg. hierarchy, directness of communication (Knowledge). ⁠
⁠
Then he planned for the next meeting and thought of ideas on how he can achieve his goal without compromising who he is (Strategy) ⁠
⁠
During the meeting decided to adapt some of his behaviours through taking the role of a scribe in a meeting.  This made him more comfortable to jump into the conversation while clarifying someone else's point when writing it down and adding some of his thoughts, since he already had the voice (Action). ⁠
⁠
Want to be more confident and comfortable when working across cultures? Follow for more!
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What's cultural intelligence? In short, it's an ability to be effective in various cultural contexts. To do that you need four competences:⁠ 👍Openness to a different perspective (CQ Drive)⁠ 👍Understanding of that other perspective (CQ Knowledge)⁠ 👍Strategy to work together in spite of the differences (CQ Strategy)⁠ 👍Flexibility to stick with our core and not losing ourselves in the process while also being effective and achieving the set goals (CQ Action)⁠ ⁠ So - what can this look like in practice? ⁠ ⁠ One of my coachees was Chinese and moved to the UK. He was challenged by the pace of the conversation here and the lack of space for him to speak up in meetings. The feedback he quickly started getting was that he needs to speak up more in meetings and contribute. ⁠ ⁠ Was it that he was unable to contribute ideas or literally speak up? 🤷No. It was more around the level of comfort, feeling that it's "wrong" to interrupt others or not to leave space before when one person speaks and the other starts. It was an internal struggle. So while it sound like a simple "just speak up!" 🙄solution, when we talk about intercultural adaptation, a lot of internal work goes into it. ⁠ ⁠ How did he overcome his challenge? 🤔⁠ ⁠ He was motivated to exploring the UK culture and learning more (Drive) and admitting that it's not 'stupid' or 'weird' but simply a different normal. ⁠ ⁠ He learnt about cultural dimensions that may be at play here eg. hierarchy, directness of communication (Knowledge). ⁠ ⁠ Then he planned for the next meeting and thought of ideas on how he can achieve his goal without compromising who he is (Strategy) ⁠ ⁠ During the meeting decided to adapt some of his behaviours through taking the role of a scribe in a meeting. This made him more comfortable to jump into the conversation while clarifying someone else's point when writing it down and adding some of his thoughts, since he already had the voice (Action). ⁠ ⁠ Want to be more confident and comfortable when working across cultures? Follow for more!
2 weeks ago
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It's a question I was asking myself when I first moved abroad. Why?⁠
⁠
I moved to the UK together with my (also Polish) partner. The caveat initially though was that he couldn't move at the same time I did 🤷 and we were apart for just over a month before he could join me here. ⁠
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A month may not sound like a lot of time, especially now that we have the context of the pandemic where I've seen many people be apart from their loved ones, partners and families for sooo much longer. ⁠
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For me at the time though it was a lot and quite an overwhelming time. ⁠
We haven't been apart for that long ever since we started our relationship 4 years before. It was a vulnerable time because I was already going through the transition and adaptation, also juggling the logistics of moving and setting myself up as well as a new intense job. 

And all the emotional rollercoaster too of course. 

It was hard to explain in words sometimes but we tried to talk 'live' every day to stay connected. ⁠
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I was asking myself - will we be able to go through that? How will this experience impact us? ⁠
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And then he joined! What a joy! 😅 Well... those first few months were tough, because we were on different adaptation timelines! By the time he arrived I already have gone through some of the ups and downs and shocks and surprises and adaptations. Now he had his adaptation time himself. 🙈 It took us a good few months to align a bit and regulate our emotions.⁠
⁠
Spoiler alert: We made it through :)⁠
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Each moving story is different. That's why I like hearing from you in conversations how you felt and how your move was. To learn different perspectives. To learn about your challenges. And to find solutions and ways forward together. ⁠
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#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 #polishcouple
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It's a question I was asking myself when I first moved abroad. Why?⁠ ⁠ I moved to the UK together with my (also Polish) partner. The caveat initially though was that he couldn't move at the same time I did 🤷 and we were apart for just over a month before he could join me here. ⁠ ⁠ A month may not sound like a lot of time, especially now that we have the context of the pandemic where I've seen many people be apart from their loved ones, partners and families for sooo much longer. ⁠ ⁠ For me at the time though it was a lot and quite an overwhelming time. ⁠ We haven't been apart for that long ever since we started our relationship 4 years before. It was a vulnerable time because I was already going through the transition and adaptation, also juggling the logistics of moving and setting myself up as well as a new intense job. And all the emotional rollercoaster too of course. It was hard to explain in words sometimes but we tried to talk 'live' every day to stay connected. ⁠ ⁠ I was asking myself - will we be able to go through that? How will this experience impact us? ⁠ ⁠ And then he joined! What a joy! 😅 Well... those first few months were tough, because we were on different adaptation timelines! By the time he arrived I already have gone through some of the ups and downs and shocks and surprises and adaptations. Now he had his adaptation time himself. 🙈 It took us a good few months to align a bit and regulate our emotions.⁠ ⁠ Spoiler alert: We made it through :)⁠ ⁠ Each moving story is different. That's why I like hearing from you in conversations how you felt and how your move was. To learn different perspectives. To learn about your challenges. And to find solutions and ways forward 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 #polishcouple
3 weeks ago
View on Instagram |
6/9
Not all bestsellers are great books, in my opinion. But this one? 100 times yes! This book made a huge impact on me and encouraged me to pursue the interest I had. 🤩⁠
⁠
In the later years of my (psychology) Masters degree I got interested in the intercultural psychology field. I've done my fair bit of reading and digging into it, and straight after finishing my studies I moved abroad to experience the expat life and more cultural diversity on my own skin. ⁠
⁠
During one of my first trips back home after moving, I noticed this book on the display (granted, marketers did a great job choosing the bright yellow for the cover 😄), read the description, bought it, and read it in no time. ⁠
⁠
What made such an impact on me was that it was full of practical, business examples on how increasing that self-awareness and expanding our toolkits can massively help us communicate and collaborate across cultures. 👉 With less frustration, with less misunderstandings, with more confidence and more fun! ⁠
⁠
It was not one of those research documents or hefty manuals I've encountered before, which were very academic and super interesting, but I wasn't sure how I can apply this to the business world.⁠
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As I was reading the book, I was also reflecting on my own early experiences of moving abroad and entering a full British working environment. That made me put the two and two together, and I knew I wanted to pursue this topic and share those and further insights with other expats to help them feel more confident and comfortable when working across cultures as well. Project Abroad was born and the rest is history ☺️
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🥰 What's a book that made and impact on your life recently? 🥰⁠
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#expatcoaching #expatlife #livingabroad #careerdevelopment #careerabroad #expatcoach #workingabroad #lifeabroad #workabroad #internationallife #internationalcareer #globalcareer #globallife #globalleaders #culturalawareness #selfawareness #selfgrowth #personalgrowth #personaldevelopment #culturalcompetence #movingabroad #zyciezagranica #zycienaemigracji #pracazagranica #rozwojosobisty #polacyzagranica
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Not all bestsellers are great books, in my opinion. But this one? 100 times yes! This book made a huge impact on me and encouraged me to pursue the interest I had. 🤩⁠ ⁠ In the later years of my (psychology) Masters degree I got interested in the intercultural psychology field. I've done my fair bit of reading and digging into it, and straight after finishing my studies I moved abroad to experience the expat life and more cultural diversity on my own skin. ⁠ ⁠ During one of my first trips back home after moving, I noticed this book on the display (granted, marketers did a great job choosing the bright yellow for the cover 😄), read the description, bought it, and read it in no time. ⁠ ⁠ What made such an impact on me was that it was full of practical, business examples on how increasing that self-awareness and expanding our toolkits can massively help us communicate and collaborate across cultures. 👉 With less frustration, with less misunderstandings, with more confidence and more fun! ⁠ ⁠ It was not one of those research documents or hefty manuals I've encountered before, which were very academic and super interesting, but I wasn't sure how I can apply this to the business world.⁠ ⁠ As I was reading the book, I was also reflecting on my own early experiences of moving abroad and entering a full British working environment. That made me put the two and two together, and I knew I wanted to pursue this topic and share those and further insights with other expats to help them feel more confident and comfortable when working across cultures as well. Project Abroad was born and the rest is history ☺️ ⁠ 🥰 What's a book that made and impact on your life recently? 🥰⁠ ⁠ ⁠ #expatcoaching #expatlife #livingabroad #careerdevelopment #careerabroad #expatcoach #workingabroad #lifeabroad #workabroad #internationallife #internationalcareer #globalcareer #globallife #globalleaders #culturalawareness #selfawareness #selfgrowth #personalgrowth #personaldevelopment #culturalcompetence #movingabroad #zyciezagranica #zycienaemigracji #pracazagranica #rozwojosobisty #polacyzagranica
4 weeks ago
View on Instagram |
7/9
If you're overwhelmed with uncertainty, you need to develop your resilience. ⁠
⁠
It's a set of skills that help you pivot, readjust and handle change and uncertainty. Those skills are: ⁠
🤩Emotional regulation⁠
🤩Impulse control⁠
🤩Optimism⁠
🤩Causal analysis⁠
🤩Empathy⁠
🤩Self-efficacy⁠
🤩Reaching out⁠
⁠
Good news is that there are strategies you can learn to grow and build on these skills! ⁠
Especially in the face of the constant change that happens around us, some intentional but some completely out of our control. All that while living abroad and not always being able to draw on our social support that we need.⁠
⁠
Drop the word 'RESILIENCE in my DMs if you want to:⁠
💪Understand the value of growing resilience skills and how they can improve your life quality abroad⁠
💪Fill up your toolkit with strategies you can apply regularly to work on your resilience skills⁠
💪Learn the triggers which put you in the overwhelm mode, where resilience skills can come in handy⁠
⁠
⁠Coaching can be a great tool to explore your current skills and build new ones - wanna give it a try? 😊⁠
⁠
⁠
#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 #buildingresilience #expatresilience #resilienceabroad
If you're overwhelmed with uncertainty, you need to develop your resilience. ⁠
⁠
It's a set of skills that help you pivot, readjust and handle change and uncertainty. Those skills are: ⁠
🤩Emotional regulation⁠
🤩Impulse control⁠
🤩Optimism⁠
🤩Causal analysis⁠
🤩Empathy⁠
🤩Self-efficacy⁠
🤩Reaching out⁠
⁠
Good news is that there are strategies you can learn to grow and build on these skills! ⁠
Especially in the face of the constant change that happens around us, some intentional but some completely out of our control. All that while living abroad and not always being able to draw on our social support that we need.⁠
⁠
Drop the word 'RESILIENCE in my DMs if you want to:⁠
💪Understand the value of growing resilience skills and how they can improve your life quality abroad⁠
💪Fill up your toolkit with strategies you can apply regularly to work on your resilience skills⁠
💪Learn the triggers which put you in the overwhelm mode, where resilience skills can come in handy⁠
⁠
⁠Coaching can be a great tool to explore your current skills and build new ones - wanna give it a try? 😊⁠
⁠
⁠
#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 #buildingresilience #expatresilience #resilienceabroad
If you're overwhelmed with uncertainty, you need to develop your resilience. ⁠
⁠
It's a set of skills that help you pivot, readjust and handle change and uncertainty. Those skills are: ⁠
🤩Emotional regulation⁠
🤩Impulse control⁠
🤩Optimism⁠
🤩Causal analysis⁠
🤩Empathy⁠
🤩Self-efficacy⁠
🤩Reaching out⁠
⁠
Good news is that there are strategies you can learn to grow and build on these skills! ⁠
Especially in the face of the constant change that happens around us, some intentional but some completely out of our control. All that while living abroad and not always being able to draw on our social support that we need.⁠
⁠
Drop the word 'RESILIENCE in my DMs if you want to:⁠
💪Understand the value of growing resilience skills and how they can improve your life quality abroad⁠
💪Fill up your toolkit with strategies you can apply regularly to work on your resilience skills⁠
💪Learn the triggers which put you in the overwhelm mode, where resilience skills can come in handy⁠
⁠
⁠Coaching can be a great tool to explore your current skills and build new ones - wanna give it a try? 😊⁠
⁠
⁠
#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 #buildingresilience #expatresilience #resilienceabroad
If you're overwhelmed with uncertainty, you need to develop your resilience. ⁠
⁠
It's a set of skills that help you pivot, readjust and handle change and uncertainty. Those skills are: ⁠
🤩Emotional regulation⁠
🤩Impulse control⁠
🤩Optimism⁠
🤩Causal analysis⁠
🤩Empathy⁠
🤩Self-efficacy⁠
🤩Reaching out⁠
⁠
Good news is that there are strategies you can learn to grow and build on these skills! ⁠
Especially in the face of the constant change that happens around us, some intentional but some completely out of our control. All that while living abroad and not always being able to draw on our social support that we need.⁠
⁠
Drop the word 'RESILIENCE in my DMs if you want to:⁠
💪Understand the value of growing resilience skills and how they can improve your life quality abroad⁠
💪Fill up your toolkit with strategies you can apply regularly to work on your resilience skills⁠
💪Learn the triggers which put you in the overwhelm mode, where resilience skills can come in handy⁠
⁠
⁠Coaching can be a great tool to explore your current skills and build new ones - wanna give it a try? 😊⁠
⁠
⁠
#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 #buildingresilience #expatresilience #resilienceabroad
projectabroadblog
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•
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If you're overwhelmed with uncertainty, you need to develop your resilience. ⁠ ⁠ It's a set of skills that help you pivot, readjust and handle change and uncertainty. Those skills are: ⁠ 🤩Emotional regulation⁠ 🤩Impulse control⁠ 🤩Optimism⁠ 🤩Causal analysis⁠ 🤩Empathy⁠ 🤩Self-efficacy⁠ 🤩Reaching out⁠ ⁠ Good news is that there are strategies you can learn to grow and build on these skills! ⁠ Especially in the face of the constant change that happens around us, some intentional but some completely out of our control. All that while living abroad and not always being able to draw on our social support that we need.⁠ ⁠ Drop the word 'RESILIENCE in my DMs if you want to:⁠ 💪Understand the value of growing resilience skills and how they can improve your life quality abroad⁠ 💪Fill up your toolkit with strategies you can apply regularly to work on your resilience skills⁠ 💪Learn the triggers which put you in the overwhelm mode, where resilience skills can come in handy⁠ ⁠ ⁠Coaching can be a great tool to explore your current skills and build new ones - wanna give it a try? 😊⁠ ⁠ ⁠ #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 #buildingresilience #expatresilience #resilienceabroad
4 weeks ago
View on Instagram |
8/9
Speaking the language with ease. Oh the dream!⁠
#mayonthemove2022 ⁠
⁠
When I was moving to the UK I thought I was speaking good English already. “I’m good at English” was a part of my identity… “If anything will be challenging for me during this move” I thought, “it will not be the language” ⁠
⁠
Could I be more wrong? 🙄🙄🙄⁠
⁠
When I came out of the Luton Airport terminal, ready for my adventure, I couldn’t find the right bus to take me to the city. So I asked a member of staff where I can find it. From her answer I only understood “show”, “ticket” and saw her pointing her finger in the direction of the bus bay. ⁠
I found the bus, got on, and understood maybe 50% of the instructions the bus driver gave. ⁠
⁠
New accents: 1 - Marta: 0 😭⁠
⁠
With tears in my eyes, I continued the journey to my new home...⁠
⁠
At that point I wished I could speak English with ease. But I defined what that means incorrectly. ⁠
⁠
It wasn’t about not making mistakes or pretending I understood all that’s being said. ⁠
⁠
It really was about mindset work that needed to happen. To understand that I don’t need to have all the words, that as long as I manage to communicate it doesn’t always matter if I make a mistake, that I can ask for explanation, that if I put myself at ease a bit more and take off the pressure I can have a better experience overall. ⁠
⁠
Do you feel like you’re able to speak a non-native language at ease? What made you reach that “at ease” stage, if you have already?⁠
⁠
#expatlife #learninglanguages #expatchallenges #lifeabroad #workabroad #careerabroad #fittingin #speakinglanguages #globallife #internationallife #internationalcareer #selfawareness #growthmindset #mindsetwork #selfdevelopment #personalgrowth #culturalawareness
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Speaking the language with ease. Oh the dream!⁠ #mayonthemove2022 ⁠ ⁠ When I was moving to the UK I thought I was speaking good English already. “I’m good at English” was a part of my identity… “If anything will be challenging for me during this move” I thought, “it will not be the language” ⁠ ⁠ Could I be more wrong? 🙄🙄🙄⁠ ⁠ When I came out of the Luton Airport terminal, ready for my adventure, I couldn’t find the right bus to take me to the city. So I asked a member of staff where I can find it. From her answer I only understood “show”, “ticket” and saw her pointing her finger in the direction of the bus bay. ⁠ I found the bus, got on, and understood maybe 50% of the instructions the bus driver gave. ⁠ ⁠ New accents: 1 - Marta: 0 😭⁠ ⁠ With tears in my eyes, I continued the journey to my new home...⁠ ⁠ At that point I wished I could speak English with ease. But I defined what that means incorrectly. ⁠ ⁠ It wasn’t about not making mistakes or pretending I understood all that’s being said. ⁠ ⁠ It really was about mindset work that needed to happen. To understand that I don’t need to have all the words, that as long as I manage to communicate it doesn’t always matter if I make a mistake, that I can ask for explanation, that if I put myself at ease a bit more and take off the pressure I can have a better experience overall. ⁠ ⁠ Do you feel like you’re able to speak a non-native language at ease? What made you reach that “at ease” stage, if you have already?⁠ ⁠ #expatlife #learninglanguages #expatchallenges #lifeabroad #workabroad #careerabroad #fittingin #speakinglanguages #globallife #internationallife #internationalcareer #selfawareness #growthmindset #mindsetwork #selfdevelopment #personalgrowth #culturalawareness
1 month ago
View on Instagram |
9/9
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