Subtitled Movies, Delivery food, and Local Booze Have Never Been So Conscientious
Importance of early expat planning.
Expat planning is important, and it is easy to start no matter where you are. Movies and TV like to show people pulling up roots and starting over someplace exciting, but that is a fantasy. If they showed the same characters 8 months later, it would not be so entertaining. Eat, Pray, Email Accountants and Lawyers, is more like it.
The good news is that the best part of expat life is experiencing new cultures. Nowadays, you can start enjoying that part from the comfort of your own home/mobile device. This is not only an easy way to start immersing yourself in your new culture, but it’s also a good way to raise any red flags before you make a big decision.
So here are 5 fun and easy expat research projects that you can start right now.
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Duolingo or other Language apps: Language learning made easy
One of the only things that expats agree on is that we all hate Duolingo – but we have all used it. It is an online language learning tool, and it is very popular among expats. Is it worth the time and effort? Let me put it this way: If your alternative is spending time with native speakers in a supportive environment, then no, Duolingo is not worth it. But if the alternative is watching one of the Housewife shows, then yes, Duolingo is worth it. Learning a language will do more than help you communicate with locals. It will also help you bond with other expats who are going through the same struggle. Once you settle in, you can make serious decisions about studying the local language. For now, just demonstrating a minimal amount of effort goes very far.
Duolingo isn’t the only online language app. ELLA Verbs (for Spanish) and Babel are also quite popular and useful.
The bottom line on language apps is that they are goodv tools but are not enough to learn a language fluently.
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Facebook groups: Connecting with the expat community.
I am not a big fan of Facebook, but the expat groups are invaluable for making connections, doing research, and understanding expat culture. Go to Facebook and search on CITY NAME and EXPAT, and you’ll be served a few options. Don’t get fancy at first. Pick a good group, one, introduce yourself, and then just lurk and observe for a while. Before long, you’ll get a feel for the kinds of people and subjects in the group. Most are great – but the internet is the internet. You’ll meet a few trolls, a few locals who want to practice English, and a lot of people who have been through exactly what you’re considering. They’re the ones to connect with.
You can start at the country level if you like, but you’ll get more value out of the city group. You can join a few, but just keep track. Some groups are very active, and you might want to choose how you get notifications.
The Facebook expat groups are my main source of current information on expat issues. This is especially true for information like prices, rentals, crime & safety, and visa information. The visa & legal advice alone is more than worth the time and effort to join the groups.
When it comes to Facebook groups, I have only 2 caveats.
- Be on the lookout for scammers and sketchy characters. Facebook + Expats = some strange encounters.
- Watch the dates of useful posts. In places like Mexico and Thailand, visa details change regularly. Some information that was posted in good faith may now be out of date and inaccurate.
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Pursuing interests and hobbies related to the target culture
I don’t know exactly what you see yourself doing in your new expat home, but there’s a good chance you can get started where you are now. Local cultural performances, skills, crafts, and cooking lessons are all available online.
One of the biggest complaints of long-term expats is the feeling of boredom after a few years. Once you acclimate to the culture and get a rhythm down, you need more than just being an expat in a foreign country.
A busy expat is a happy expat. The more you have to do, to study, and to enjoy, the better your expat experience will be.
This is a message for those of you who don’t have any real hobbies outside of spending time with friends and family. That’s a wonderful activity, and we wholly support it – but you may need more in your life after you go expat.
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Netflix: Using dubbing to immerse in the target culture
You probably already have one of the most powerful tools of cultural education on your phone, computer, and TV. It’s Netflix – or any other streaming service that offers dubbed foreign films (from your target culture).
Many expats think of Netflix as a language-learning tool, and I do to. When I was studying Spanish, watching familiar titles like “Brooklyn 99” and “Community” in Spanish helped my listening.
An even more powerful tool, however, is translating local series and movies into English. This is especially useful when popular TV series are available in English. You really get a window into their ideas about family, work, friendship, and humor. This is a good way to learn more about the everyday values, attitudes, and priorities of your new neighbors.
A good place to start is “Maya and the 3”. It’s a modern, animated full-length movie that is voiced by actors well-known in both Mexico and the US. Other streamed shows aren’t as family friendly. Local series are a great way to learn the culture – but be warned. Some of these Netflix shows are definitely for grown-ups. Here are some particularly grown-up options on Netflix.
5. Exploring local cuisine from home.
I had to put food last, or I wouldn’t remember to talk about anything else. I am like many expats in that food and culture are completely interwoven. Not only is the food an adventure in foreign countries, but acquiring the food is a major experience. Getting the food is as much of an adventure as eating it. It doesn’t matter whether it’s their version of a local lunch counter, a fancy upscale restaurant, or a local open-air market. Every culture has food stories, and this is the first and best way to get to know them. (I’m including beer, wine, and spirits – from the land of Mezcal.)
The best option, of course, is to find an authentic local place in your own neighborhood. Tell the owner you want to try authentic local dishes, and let him or her impress you (because they will surely try). If that doesn’t work, then you need a virtual option or two. Unfortunately, most frozen food from other cultures is hit-or-miss at best, and downright awful most of the time.
If you’re a fan of Iron Chef or Chopped, then we have good news. YouTube and the big streaming services all have cooking shows featuring local cooks and local favorite dishes. If you can’t taste the food, at least you can learn the ingredients and see the techniques.
Takeaway: Starting the expat journey from home is cheap, easy, and fun
Expat planning can be scary. Leaving the home you know and going to a foreign country is a stressful prospect. I know. But most of it is a series of great experiences, and those are the ones you should lean into. The good news is that you can start learning the best of your new neighborhood’s preferences and styles right now, in the most pleasant way possible. Sexy Netflix novelas, birria tacos, and Mezcal have never been such a responsible choice.