How to Become Stoic Abroad?

People move from place to place from time to time as change is the only constant thing in this world, reasons for relocating varies. It could be for jobs, safety, education, love, or maybe exposure. 

Moving abroad requires a lot of prior preparation because, contrary to what you might believe, adapting to life in another man’s land is not very easy, and it would take some time and effort, especially when it comes to your studies. 

One has to deal with adjusting to the local culture, language, and food. Being stoic will undoubtedly aid your adaptation to a new environment and ensure the cultural and environmental differences don’t hit you too hard. 

A stoic is a person who is not very emotional. Stoicism is the ability to endure negative feelings without a display or show of opinions and complaints. Developing a stoic personality will ensure you are unfazed by the challenges encountered as a student or a working living away from your country.

The following practices will ensure you are prepared to further your education outside your comfort zone. Read on-

1. Selecting in the Right Location and School

The most important aspect of getting accustomed to a new place abroad involves choosing the correct country from the start. There are several factors to consider when choosing the right state for your education. These include the language, climate, and the nature of people who reside there. 

The style of a country determines how easy it is for you to communicate with people living in that country. Although some schools offer an opportunity for foreigners to study by providing a course in popular languages like English, the advantage of going to a country where you can communicate properly cannot be overstated. It eliminates the burden of having to learn a new language that you are not previously familiar with. 

Moving to a country with a similar climate ensures that you don’t have to make a lot of adjustments to your usual outfits and daily routine. Individual states have it in their habit to be friendly to foreigners and also helping they adjust to the environment. This varies across countries, and it would be wise to pick a country with close nationals if you had the choice.

2. Expect the Worst

It is usually believed that positivity is key to leading a happy life and survival, but that is not within the principles of stoicism. Stoics believe the merely hoping for the best could lead to laziness and passivity. When moving to a new country, despite what you might have heard of reading about, you still wouldn’t know what to expect.

 People’s experiences vary, and what one person might see as a natural way of life or an easy adjustment to make could be difficult for you. A wise move when moving to a new country to study would be to expect the worst. It could be in terms of your acceptance into your new habitat, integration with others, or the cost of living. 

When you are prepared for the worst, you find a way to deal with a bad situation when it arises, and you wouldn’t have to panic.

3. Be Determined and Stay Focused on Your Goal

Moving could be entertaining for students, you get to experience and see things which you haven’t ever seen or only see on TV. It is okay to enjoy something that you haven’t done, but that should not come at the detriment of your education.

 Exposure to so many new things all at once can be overwhelming and distract you from your studies being focused on eliminates such distractions or keeps them in check. One of the problems we face in our daily lives is that with so many options, we never really know what path or decision to commit to. 

Getting distracted with all the new fantastic side attractions is very easy, and one has to be much disciplined to stay on track and work according to the previously set plan.

4. Learn to Listen and Observe

A lot of things become different when you have to move abroad. The kind of stuff you enjoy, your sense of humour, tradition, and habits could differ from that of the nationals of a country. Listening more and talking less enables you to learn things faster, not just in the area of your studies but also in the general aspect of life. 

You get to understand culture and tradition, which is different from yours as it varies all over the world. Settling down to observe will present you the opportunity to know more about the people with which you will be interacting and give you a better understanding of what they find right or wrong.

5.  Seek Support

The feeling of being far from home and the ones you love can be overwhelming sometimes. Chances are you’re not the only international student in the school. You can seek support and talk to people who understand what you are feeling at that moment. It is likely to make you feel better. 

Talking about culture shock and adapting to a new environment with people who share your predicament can help you to understand the country and residents of the country better. You can also speak to support staff in your schools, such as your tutors, the welfare team, or a counsellor. They would be willing to help when you find yourself dealing with homesickness or have questions about your academics or the country, and its culture.

Moving abroad, however, it is a pleasant experience and gives room to learn a lot apart from what is learned at school. Make the best of the opportunity; that is what matters most and achieve the initial goals you set before departing for the country. Adapting takes time and cannot be rushed, but being resilient will see you through your challenges.

Do leave a comment or question below. Let us know what your experiences are and how you have managed them. We will love to hear from you.