Student Culture Shock when Moving to a New City

• 16 Feb, '16
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They say moving is one of the most stressful things you can do, so it’s no surprise that people struggle when they move to a new city. Once you have done all the hard work and moved all your stuff, you can begin the process of settling in.

Cities can vary greatly in many different ways, whether it’s the culture, people or the environment. It’s crucial to pick a city to live in that suits your lifestyle and needs. If you are finding it difficult to settle into your new chosen city, don’t worry, there are a few things you can do to help. Experiencing a bit of culture shock and moving in jitters is completely normal. Here’s some tips and advice on settling in a new city.

Research the area

Before the big move arrives, make sure you do your research. Arm yourself with lots of useful information about your new city. For example, you might want to figure out things like where your nearest pharmacy, supermarket or post office is. This will leave you feeling more prepared when the time comes to move, and when you get there you won’t have to worry about where all the important things are.

Get out exploring

As soon as you arrive, head out into your new city and explore the local area. It’s quite exciting looking around your new city and discovering everything it has to offer. Going exploring will help you to settle in and get to know the area more quickly.

Join a club

Join a local club or two when you get to your new city. You could even research a few potential clubs and societies to join before you go. Joining a club can help get you involved in the local community, meet people and make friends.

Make your place feel like home

Try and make your new place feel as homely as possibly, by bringing lots of things that remind you of home. You might also want to head out and buy some new bits and bobs to spruce the place up.

Chat to the locals

Although it can be a bit of a daunting prospect for some, make an attempt to strike up conversations with local people. This will help you to meet people and learn lots of useful stuff and tips about where you live. Plus you can get a feel for what the locals are really like.

Have friends and family visit

Having friends and family from your old hometown visit can help to prevent you from getting homesick. One of the main things people usually miss about their home is the people in it. Book in dates for your friends and family to pay you a visit.

Try and find your way around

Getting lost can be very stressful, and it can add to your anxiety levels. As soon as you find your bearings and get to know the area better you will feel more comfortable and at ease. Spend some time on Google maps and go out driving, walking or cycling around the local area.