Everyone warns you about culture shock. Nobody warns you about the administrative chaos, the quiet loneliness of Sunday afternoons, or the strange guilt of loving your new life while missing your old one.
Here is what the first six months are actually like.
Month One: The Honeymoon
Everything is exciting. You are eating at every restaurant on the street, exploring every neighbourhood, saying yes to every invitation. This phase is wonderful — enjoy it.
Month Two and Three: The Reality
The bureaucracy begins to pile up. You realise you don’t know where to buy the things you need. You miss your friends with a physical ache. This is normal. This is temporary.
Month Four to Six: Finding Your Rhythm
You have a coffee place. You recognise your neighbours. You know which supermarket is better for which things. You stop comparing everything to back home. This is the beginning of actually living abroad — not just visiting.