Moving to another country half way around the world isn't the easiest thing to do. It is a hassle, not to mention tear jerking when it is time to say goodbye. I've been so comfortable with Singapore, found buddies, loved the inexpensive variety of food, and have adapted to the comfort of a stable climate, natural-disaster free, low crime, politically stable country i've called home since the day I was born. What a blessing, don't you think? I'm not moving to a "better" place, but a different place. That being New York. And I would have to learn to integrate myself if I really want to learn something from being there. I will be actively finding a place to stay in NY or NJ next week, but my official move will only be next year.
Here are some of my ideas of how one can integrate, and feel comfortable:
1. Location of Your Home
Look at the mix of people of the place you're moving to, crime rate, health index, etc. The safer the place, the more you'd be comfortable interacting with neighbours, exploring the vicinity and taking public transport. Best Places helped me with looking at different locales, and comments from people who live in these places are helpful too. Having friends you might know who live there would be helpful too (especially if they don't live too far away).
2. Pick up the Lingo
I might be wrong, but I think picking up some Spanish an Hip Hop Lingo would be helpful. Language helps us to connect to people better. I don't want to be one of those who loses our Singlish abilities just because i've moved to another country of course... (Yes, Singlish to me is like a superpower language! Long sentences can shortened easily and meaningfully. "Is it?" <- There you go, "is it" is not an English sentence). But ya, to turn "peeps" into "homies", Lingo fluency helps. I've known foreign friends and colleagues who were perplexed (some even disgusted) with Singlish who have become fluent in Singlish now. Cool. 3. Community Activity/ Service
Some regular involvement with a particular group of people will probably help alot. I don't make friends immediately when I go to work or school... ... It is gradual. It takes time to know people. Going to school or office will already expose you to a group of people you can socialise with regularly. And these people can sometimes turn into your "family" while in a foreign country. But what if you're not attending school/ work there? I guess going to church and joining a group there would be a good alternative for me. Joining a serving ministry is good too. I've heard alot about Redeemer Presbytarian for the quality of its sermons, as well as it's community service/outreach to the local people. I am looking forward to visit. :-)
4. Share a Universal Love
Going to school/work/church/community service is one gradual way to bond - you may not know what to talk about when you're with them sometimes. But if you have a hobby like reading, hiking... ... finding a group of people who share your love is another great way, AND you'd have a great common topic to talk about. I personally would like to try to do something with music. :-D Jam session anyone? Hahaha *blush*
With Singapore being small (geographically...perhaps economically too?), it has definately become more common for Singaporeans to move to another country, for education/work/better opportunities of sorts - foreigners move to Singapore for the same reasons. We have relatives and friends (possibly even you?) - who have moved to another country with a culture different for a few years. Back home, we can tell easily who the foreigners are. And now, I'M THE FOREIGNER. Yikes.
Reflection:
Please state which country you have moved to, or where you imagine you'd like to go. Did any of the above work for you? What do you think are the best ways to integrate comfortably into another country/ culture?
Thursday, May 15, 2008
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Hi this is unrelated to your required relection xD Routing back to the most intrinsic factors, what actually motivated you to migrate to NYC? (the push factors) I am also curious after reading: When you stepped into such a gargantuan city like NYC, did you experience any initial conundrums in the course of assimilating within the very different pace and way of life? Did the above measures work really effectively for you? Do you feel that you have been extremely comfortable in your adaptations? Hope that you can enlighten me..Thanks a lot :)
ReplyDeleteHi Athz ^_^
ReplyDeleteI must say that my move to NYC is purely extrinsic - My husband found a job in NYC, and I wish to follow and be with him. I had to leave my career, friends and family behind, to a country where I am legally not allowed to find work. (However, that does not mean that in future there are no intrinsic factors to want to stay on.)
NYC is really not that colossal. There are many cities in the world bigger than NYC. Wall street is only 0.4miles (less than 700 meters). What makes NYC leviathan in the world's view is the amount of activity and opportunity created by immense variety of talented people in such a compact city.
At present, I would not want to assume that I have assimulated into America, but yes I have been comfortable here. This country is blessed in many ways, and there are truly bargins and opportunities to be found. Still, being happy and comfortable here is largely because my husband allows me to be so privileged. Having a loved one with you plays a big part when moving to a foreign country. Even supposing you moved to Eutopia, you would feel still homesick if the one(s) you deeply love's not with you.
There is a contrariety between what I wrote in my blog last year, and what I actually experienced this year. Nobody truly treated me like I'm different, a foreigner (yet). It was me that assumed that I might be a sore thumb. I feel like a part. New Yorkers are used to having immigrants, and almost everyone in NYC came from some other part of the world anyway. It is possible that talented people from 194 countries of the world have come to NYC with a common cause - to find monetary opportunities. So it is similar to Singapore, being a multi-racial, multi-cultural city-state. The pace depends on what industry you work in. I know that employees and employers in Singapore work very hard too, certain industries more than others. I attend a church as well, and when I see people of various nationalities pledging their allegiance to Christ, I feel that we're not so different after all.
In short, my anwers to your 3 questions would be "no I have not experienced anything particulary mystifying"; "some measures yes", and "mostly comfortable, yes". I would now love for you to reply me your reflections: Do you have an intrinsic motivation to experience living in another country? If yes, then what motivates you, where do you wish to go, and why? Do you think you would assimulate well? ;-)
Nowadays is very important to know about different culture specially because many people travel from different country. When we have some knowledge about the cultures we can understand better the people and we can understand ourselve in a simple way, and is easy to forget any taboo that impide the enjoyment of our life.
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