Home Abroad: 5 Tips to Feel More at Home as an Expat in a Foreign Country

It is not easy to feel at home when you live abroad. In our previous article we listed the main challenges an expat can face – more specifically those living in Milan, Italy. Bureaucratic struggles, language barriers and lack of community – just to mention a few of the most common challenges. 

Let’s now address the question: how to face these challenges as an expat and create a comfortable, homey environment abroad? 

Here are our top 5 tips: 

1. Leverage the collective wisdom: there are many groups for foreigners which are great containers of collective wisdom. Reach out to those who have already been through what you are going through now and pick their brains. 

1. Have a basic vocabulary: Italians appreciate if you try to express yourself in Italian. Especially when managing bureaucratic issues, learn some basic, relevant words.  

1. Put yourself out there: were you taking dance classes back home? Did you sing in a choir? Then why not search for ways to practice old hobbies or search for new ones? Push yourself not to be a “coach potato”, be open to new adventures, search for new communities ! 

1. Build and tell your story: know your why, know your worth (your strength and USPs) and create a compelling story out of it. Don’t be shy to tell this story to others, on LinkedIn, at interviews, or at work. On difficult days, you can also tell this story to the mirror, reminding yourself of your why. 

1. Connect to locals: one inevitable way to feel more at home is to connect to those who feel at home – be it natives or expats who already consider Milan their home. Surrounding yourself with international friends can give you empathy and a sense of “not being alone”, while bonding with native friends and colleagues can help you embrace the local culture. Stay up to date with topics that interest locals: if everybody talks about San Remo, turn on the TV and check it out! Next day you will be able to chip in the lunch-chat easier at work! 

The above list was born from a brainstorming of “milanese” expats who participated in our very first workshop “How to feel home when you move abroad?”. Special thanks to their expertise. We are sharing their wisdom! 

As closing words, let us remind ourselves of one thing: no matter how unfortunate or unfavourable circumstances are, there is always something that YOU CAN do to make yourself feel better, more comfortable living abroad. Look for those aspects that you can influence, turn your “protagonist mode” on and act in your circle of control. Results will come! 

– Article writen by Eszter Sztrányay, Professional Trainer & Coach, Co-Founder of The Expat Project - Milan.