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Rise to the challenge....

Weekly Topic: How to Adjust to a New Environment

Melanie Partin

Hi! Adjusting to a new environment can be difficult... It's hard to adjust, especially if you are used to being in a certain environment when it suddenly changes.  We are always having to adjust in different ways in life- in small ways and big ways.  For example, if you have a job and you are used to your supervisor, but then they quit their job and you get a new supervisor. You have to adjust and get used to having a different supervisor, which can be difficult if you liked your old supervisor a lot more.  Another adjustment could be going to a new school, where you have to start over with making new friends with classmates, and you have all new teachers.

We all have to adjust to changes in our lives.... I am living now in a foreign country that is very different than where I grew up, so I have a really big adjustment to make haha!  It sometimes can be very challenging, and it's not always fun.  The language is totally different from English, and the culture is also different.  There are ways that I have to adjust or change my behavior to be polite or to avoid offending people according to this culture.  There are things that I am learning are totally fine to do in the USA, but it shouldn't be done here.  Some people are understanding, patient, and gracious with me, knowing that I am not from here so I don't know everything yet that I should or should not be doing.  Unfortunately not everyone is understanding and gracious.... But I can't worry about them. I need to just continue to learn and to adjust when I realize I made a mistake.

An encouragement to remember: everyone makes mistakes. We aren't perfect people... Nobody is.  We try to do good and to do right, but sometimes we make mistakes.  We need to be gracious and understanding of each other.  It's hard to go overseas and adjust to learning a new language, and adjust to a new culture, new people, and to being the only one there who is different.  In the community where I live, I am the only American.  So I understand this first hang haha!  Even so, I still enjoy living in a different country and experiencing a different culture.  It's also an opportunity to learn and to grow as a person!

Anyway, come to my class and let's talk! I really understand what it's like to try to learn a different language, and learn about a different culture, and to have to step outside of what is comfortable to try to meet people and make friends.  And I really enjoy teaching people and watching them grow themselves!  Don't be shy haha!  Let's speak English together and have fun in class :)

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This column was published by the author in their personal capacity.
The opinions expressed in this column are the author's own and do not reflect the view of Cafetalk.

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