Every year, thousands of
people move to a foreign country. Some because of a job, others because they
want to explore the world, or both for that matter. Being an expat can be
tough. You will face a new culture, a new language, and a new landscape. This
might all sound exciting, and it is, but moving to a foreign country is not all
thrilling. Many difficulties and hard decisions will arise, and one of those
decisions is whether you decide to follow the customs of your new country or
keep your own.
First, a significant factor in living a good life is to be yourself. Stay true to yourself. No matter what you undertake, you should not feel pushed to become someone you are not, and never think that you have to change to be accepted in your new community. For the reason that you do not have to. People will accept you as the person you are, as long as you have a respectful attitude towards them. Everyone has an outstanding identity. You are unique and should not feel like you have to change. However, being open-minded and willing to learn about other cultures has never hurt anyone.
Second, if choosing to follow the customs of your new country, then that will absolutely become a vast advantage in understanding the culture. You will get to the soul of why people live the way they do, and you might even find that you prefer this lifestyle yourself. On the other hand, you might find that this way of living is not the best for you, and it will make you appreciate your own way of living more than you did before. That goes for your country and everything in it as well. One thing is for sure, you will evolve as a person if you are open to everything and everyone surrounding you. However, following your new country`s customs might bring along a few problems.
There are certain rules in some countries that will put you in a complicated situation if you go too far in following their customs, and the other way around. Take for an instance, a male expatriate living in Oman. If he decides to live exactly like an Omani, then an arrest will probably take place for wearing a dish dash, because non-Muslims are not allowed to wear those. On the other side, a woman living in Saudi Arabia might get arrested for following her own customs, because it is mandatory to wear a burka, and she is not allowed to drive a car either. At home, they both decide how they want to live; moreover, they have to be careful in public. There are many dissimilar rules in different countries, and it is not always up to the individual to decide how to live.
All in all, there are both advantages, as well as disadvantages by following a foreign country`s customs and following your own. I believe, that every single expatriate have to decide what he or she wants. However, I preferred to follow my own customs as a general. For my part, that was important in order to stay true to myself, and it surely made me feel safer and more at home. On the other hand, nothing will ever be the same. I gained experiences, which lead to changes in my lifestyle, which means that even my customs changed. However, that was all right, because it happened over time. Moreover, as a conclusion, there is no answer to what is the best. Everyone have to take a stand for themselves, as long as you follow the rules and laws of the country, then you can live how you want. Finally, yet importantly, be respectful towards everyone always, and you will gain an experience and a memory worth a lifetime.
Do you prefer to change
your customs when moving to a new country? Or
do you keep your own?
I suppose it might also depend on what 'sort' of life you are living in the country. What sort of job you have. Why you went there. If you are supported by a company or outside organization you may be able to stay yourself and at the same time immerse yourself in the culture. But what if you have simply arrived alone and take up a medium type job surrounded by the locals with no contact with your own nationals? you might become more of a 'local'????
SvarSlettWhen I went as a child to England then English became my first language and I became English in a way. On the other hand, after living years and years in French speaking countries French became my more natural language and my way of thinking more French. Is that a good or bad approach?????
I agree! The context is crucial; when you move, who you move with or alone, at what point you are in your life at that moment, where you move and so on. As written in my text I kept my own customs, though they changed over time. Of course, I was affected by the Omanis, the Americans, and others. Instead of watching Christmas shows in the morning of Christmas Eve I walked on the beach, however we didn´t celebrate on Christmas Day (25th) like the Americans, or not at all, like the Omanis. This celebration, like everything else changed bit by bit, but I still stuck to the main part of my traditions.
SlettIf I moved somewhere by myself and were only surrounded by locals, I would absolutely follow their customs and a part of me would become a "local". Say I moved to the US, and lived there for ten years, I´m pretty sure I would feel like an American. Moreover, as I mentioned I think the "becoming a local" part, depends on where you live. At least, I think it would for me. In the US, England, France etc. I think I would end up changing many of my old customs. In a country like Oman, however, I don´t think I would ever end up living just like them. Yes, I did end up running across large streets to buy shawarma and I still do when visiting (something a normal tourist would never do), but I can´t see myself living as an Omani. The culture is extremely different from the Norwegian one, and I could never picture myself not being allowed to drink alcohol, looking at the man as the boss and so on. I would never allow myself to feel smaller than I am. The gender equality is improving, but it isn´t good enough.
I fully understand that you first felt English, and then French. I probably would too. In my opinion, that seems like a great approach! But, for me, having lived in Oman, that wouldn´t have been an option. I know people who have lived there 10-15 years and they still keep to their old customs, of course those change a bit, but wearing a burka everyday isn´t an option. And, by the way, non muslim men aren´t even allowed to wear the dishdash in public.