How to live fully in a new country

How to live fully in a new place?

We cannot choose where we were born but we can choose where to live. Most importantly, we can choose how to live.

I am happy to share with you my tips that I used to live fully in Gerona, Spain – a completely different place compared to my hometown Vietnam. It has become my sweet second home that I will definitely go back one day.

After 1 year studying in Spain, I am thankful to share with you:

• I finished my program in 10 months and published 1 research paper. Most importantly, I got some great professors who are willing to write recommendation letters for me any time

• I got 2 families (German one in Magdeburg and Spanish one in Gerona)

  

  

• I got 1 German brother, 1 Spanish sister, 1 Colombian brother, 1 close British friend and 1 close Colombian friend and thousands of other friends

  

• I worked as a volunteer for a new business and the owners became my close friends

  

• I  visited 10 countries in Europe

  

• Most importantly, I found my true self: the secret to nonstop living is nonstop learning, loving and giving every moment of life

  

  (My first e-book was published in 2015)

Let’s travel back with me to see the process to fully living in a new country.

Before moving away

• Reclaim your life purpose/your goals:

  The first and foremost step is to have your life purpose, why you want to study abroad and what do you expect from it.  If you don’t have the WHY, you may get lost or you may not make the best use of the opportunity.

• Write down your goals and share them with your mastermind group:

  You need to make and write down you life missions, your Goals plan in 3 months, 6 months, 1 year and 3 years, etc. You then should print it out and stick somewhere then you can see it every day. It is even better if you can share it with your mastermind group (group of people who have same interest and purposes in life to support each other grow).

• You need to design your mindset as below:

  • Be open to learn and willing to change to get better every day but commit/dedicate/focus on the one thing – your life mission

  • Only take the opportunities that move you towards your mission

  • Work on yourself to raise your standards every day, do at least 3 things everyday that moves us towards our mission in life

  • Be aware of common problems in the new country, learn about the culture, respect people and learn from them  

  • Fully engage in each and every single moment with each and every single thing/person

  • Appreciate each and every opportunity/person coming to your life

  • Keep a list of contact, stay in touch with the people who really matter to your life

  • Express your love, your appreciation by words and actions in a genuine way

  • Pay it forward

• Do research to get as much possible info as possible

  • Ask your friends/relatives not only in your home country but other countries

  • Use the internet

  • Here are some items that you can plan and do research about:

    • Your passion/life career

      • Is there any community or anyone that can help you improve your skills?

      • Is it possible that you start your business ideas in the new country?

    • Health

      • List all your health problems if you have then get advice from doctors to bring necessary medicine in any case

      • Exercise: search for the gyms, parks, mountains, etc

      • Food: search for supermarket, local markets, etc

      • Drink: drink a lot of water, whether can drink the water from tap/fountain or not?

      • Outdoor activities: search for places for hiking, running, cycling, etc

    • Studying program

      • Timetable

      • Where

      • How many credits…..

      • Competitions or conferences….

      • Professors info

      • Etc

    • Finance: No matter how much do you have, always pay yourself first as a financial freedom account  

      • How much do you get from the scholarship/parents

      • Make a  money plan for spending

      • Find a part-time job, work online to get extra income or start your own business

    • Accommodation

      • Location (how far to schools, gyms, work….)

      • Price

      • Furniture

      • View

      • Housemates/neighbourhood

      • etc

    • Transportation

      • What is the most convenient vehicle?

      • Price

      • Etc

    • Travelling

      • Make a travelling plan

      • Save money for the travelling plan

      • Etc

    • Socializing

      • Search on the internet to find the most popular social networks of local/expats/students, etc that have same interest as you

      • Create your own social networks

      • Attend local festivals

      • Etc

    • Languages

• Write down necessary information on your notebook and print it out.
• Make a folder on your laptop, you can sync with cloud data so you can update anywhere you go

When you arrive

• Every day:

  • Create a prioritized list that should include at least 3 things that move you towards your life mission. For example, if you want to become a writer, just write at least a page every day

  • Keep writing a journal

  • Create a blog or website (using free framework as wordpress or tumblr) and share your experience

  • Tools:

    • Refer to the Productivity Planner of Brendon Burchard

      http://www.highperformanceacademy.com/HPA-1pageproductivity.pdf

• Health:

  • Do exercise (the best is every day):

    Remember, anything is better than nothing. You can do exercise in any forms. When you wake up in the morning, instead of opening or going to use the Internet, get out of the house and go for running, walking, cycling, swimming, etc.

    Don’t make excuse because of no gyms or cold/hot weather, at least you can run or just simply walk.

  • Drink a lot of water

    For me, I drink 6 little per day with 2 hours of exercise per day. I feel much better to drink this amount of water instead of only 3 little. So it may depend on your physical body and you can listen to it and come up with the amount of water needed.

  • Outdoor activities every weekend

    I organize hiking every weekend. That is the best way to stay away from work and enjoy the nature to re-energize as well as network with people.

  • Eat healthy food

    Fruit and raw vegetable are the best choice.

• Friendship:

  •  Create your network of friends using some platform like Meetup.com; couchsurfing.com, face book group, etc.

  • Fully engage whenever you meet up with any friends, don’t stare at your phone.  

  • Keep in touch with your important friends.

  • Refer to my slide about 6 ways to create a social network of friends:

http://www.slideshare.net/JenniferVuHuong/how-to-build-a-social-network-61978225

• Finance

  •  Using the jaz system to manage your money:  with any money that you earn, please pay yourself 10% at least, 10% for self-development, 10% for paying it forward...

  • Find a part time job if it is possible

  • Refer to some online websites: upwork or Odesk to get an online job to work every where

• Love

  Be open and willing to love and be loved

  Love life...............

After you leave

• Congratulations, you just did it so you can give yourself some credits for the completion

  • • Call your friends to celebrate even you don’t need to tell them about the completion but pay yourself a cheerful time

    • Or pay yourself a nice meal, etc

• Do learn from the experience:

  • • Things you have done well  so you can keep it up

    • Things you could improve

    • Revise your strategy and set a new standard for yourself  

• Share your experience on your websites/blogs or meetings with friends

• Don’t forget to express your express your appreciation to people who helped in the new place; keep in touch with friends who really matter to your life mission