| Experiencing culture shock is natural when you move | | | | What shots do you need? These are important |
| abroad - here's what you can do about it. | | | | questions to answer during your last month. Also, if you |
| The moment I stepped off the plane in Osaka, Japan I | | | | can't fit it into your checked luggage while packing, |
| was already bleary-eyed and bone-tired. I had spent | | | | don't bring it! Put your overflow into a box that a family |
| the trip flying across the world in a half-sleep because | | | | member can send you or bring with them later on |
| my seat on the plane was so uncomfortable it felt like | | | | when they come for a visit. |
| a tee-shirt wrapped around a stadium chair. | | | | - Accept a helping hand. The candidates we send who |
| This was nothing new for me. I had become used to | | | | apply as English teachers in Japan begin their journey |
| the 15 hour flight because my role as a recruiter for a | | | | abroad as soon as they accept their position in their |
| private educational company focusing on ESL and | | | | home country. We begin a paper work process with |
| teaching English in Japan to children. Our recruiters | | | | them at this point but it should also involve learning |
| from our offices in Los Angeles, Toronto and Chicago | | | | about the culture, history and values of their destination. |
| have meetings with our corporate staff in Okayama, | | | | Hired candidates who actively pursue this information |
| Japan throughout the year. These short business trips | | | | early on in the process adjust better and have a |
| are tough on my body but they are a breeze | | | | stronger understanding of what is going on around |
| compared to my first cultural transition in 2003 when I | | | | them, even if they don't yet know the language. These |
| first traveled there to teach English in Japan. | | | | candidates, of course, become more effective English |
| When I first moved to Japan as an instructor teaching | | | | teachers. Most companies implement their own |
| English to children in an EFL setting, I found my train | | | | orientation process prior to departure; make sure the |
| ride after my flight arrived a bit nerve-wracking. The | | | | company you've been hired by is one of them. We do |
| signs were all in Japanese and English at first as my | | | | our best to help our candidates adjust initially when |
| guide books promised but the scrolling electronic | | | | they arrive. The assumption is that they will take over |
| menus of arriving stations on the train were only in | | | | the process after they get moved in. |
| Japanese and so too were the voices over the | | | | - Getting settled is no small thing. Our hired English |
| intercom and the billboards we zipped past. I | | | | teachers who have made the transition well are |
| remember asking the clerk at the newspaper stand | | | | flexible and not easily rattled. They possess this |
| how much it cost for an English newspaper in my | | | | confidence because they have thoroughly done their |
| simple Japanese and he stood there smiling, unable to | | | | research and they are dedicated to making it work. |
| comprehend what I had said. It was official, I was | | | | There will always be rough days so account for them! |
| illiterate in Japan. I was immersed in the cultural shock | | | | How will you reach your family or friends when you |
| every travel book describes. | | | | have a difficult day at work? You can skype, blog, |
| Moving abroad is a unique challenge and if you would | | | | instant message or text your friends if you already |
| someday like to live abroad - especially if you desire to | | | | have a way to get in touch with those that are |
| teach English in Japan - it is critical to become actively | | | | important to you while you are adjusting. Teachers |
| involved in a key cultural transition, your own. | | | | who move into the apartments we provide as a |
| If you plan someday to work in Japan or teach English | | | | company and get settled in quickly also adjust much |
| in Japan, keeping in mind the following steps will help | | | | faster. This is a simple task but a very important one. |
| anyone ambitious enough to leave their own culture for | | | | Put those pictures up on the wall. Find a great local |
| another. | | | | store that you can purchase food you like. Find a great |
| - Get serious now, so you'll have fun later. If you are | | | | place to work out or get a decent haircut. These are |
| applying for a job that requires you to move abroad, | | | | simple tasks but no small thing when adjusting abroad. |
| do your research before the interview about the | | | | - You've gotten this far, go the distance! Probably one |
| country. This is especially true if you plan to teach | | | | of the most frustrating things as a recruiter is when I |
| English in Japan. Talk to acquaintances and friends | | | | had an English teacher who was homesick give up |
| who have lived abroad in the country where you | | | | and head back home. Having a hard day here in the |
| would like to go and listen to their experiences. Ask | | | | U.S. is an occasional occurrence but one that we often |
| questions and then when it is time to interview you'll be | | | | have to endure. The same is true for when you are |
| that much more informed. Don't just limit your research | | | | living abroad. Candidates who have adjusted well find |
| to chat rooms on the internet. Even though there are | | | | what they like to do in the country that they are living |
| websites with postings from the legions of ESL | | | | in. Do you like to play sports or go for a run? Are you |
| teachers teaching English as a second language, these | | | | interested in traditional arts and culture? Do you want |
| places are helpful for prescient information can | | | | to find a faith-based group to communicate with? All |
| sometimes be trolling grounds of the misinformed or | | | | of these elements of our daily life are things that we |
| disenfranchised. Go to the library and find a good | | | | underestimate the importance of until we live abroad |
| travel book and write down the books on the | | | | and they are not readily available. The key thing is to |
| suggested reading list and start reading! | | | | not wait for your new life to come knocking at your |
| - Take responsibility. No one can better organize your | | | | door. You have to get up and go find it using the same |
| departure and imminent arrival in a new country better | | | | determination and boldness that got you there in the |
| than you. Quickly the tasks will mount and you could | | | | first place. |
| end up feeling overwhelmed. Don't worry this is | | | | As you can see, achieving success when you get to |
| common. Start small and write everything down. Now | | | | another culture is dependent on what you have |
| once you compile this list of tasks, start working your | | | | accomplished before you left. Get started today with |
| way down and check them off one by one. However, | | | | your great adventure by finding out where you'd like to |
| if you are within a month from departure make sure it | | | | live and work someday so you don't get lost in the |
| is all about the practical side. How will you be bringing | | | | transition. |
| money? Where will you get your prescriptions filled? | | | | |