Lindsay McMahon
"The English Adventurer"

Have you ever struggled with how to thrive in a new country?

If you have moved abroad, have you ever had issues with how to get used to your new culture?

Today we have a special guest with us, Mitch, who is living abroad in Japan and is a co-host of Small Talk Japan.

Mitch is going to share his experiences in Japan and how he learned to thrive in a new country.

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Adapting To A New Environment

If you have ever traveled abroad, then you know that it can be quite an experience.

Today we have Mitch on our show, who moved from the US to Japan and has learned how to make a great life abroad.

We’re talking to him about different things you can do to build a great life in another country.

Mitch has learned a lot about the Japanese culture by moving there, and they even “renamed” him to “Mitchee”.

He has a podcast called “Small Talk Japan” which features him and his two Japanese friends who talk about everyday stuff.

Navigating An Entirely Different Culture

When you move to another country, it can be a life changing experience.

So many of the things that you were used to are different now.

It can be a culture shock because it’s so different, but you can make the most out of it.

You can make a great experience out of moving across the world if you know what to expect.

You also have to go in with the right attitude and an open mind, because that will make a big difference.

Mitch is from Las Vegas and lived in the US most of his life, but he has cultural roots in Japan from his mom.

His mom grew up there and so this is a culture that really interested him as a kid, and so moving there was a perfect fit for him.

He made the transition to living in Japan, and he has some tips to share to make your experience much better.

Tips For Being Successful and Happy In A New Country

These are the three tips that can help you to be successful and really enjoy your new culture and environment.

You want to know what to do and what not to do, so you can make the most out of this and enjoy living abroad.

  1. Don’t expect the new place to be like what you’re used to: It may sound simple but it’s so true. You might find yourself irritated if you can’t find things that you normally buy at the store for example. You might have your family back home sending you the “critical items” that you need. Over time and with the right mindset, you get used to living with the things that you have in this new country. You may feel frustrated at first, but you learn to adapt. It makes it a much more positive experience if you can go in with an open mind and recognize that it will be different. You might be used to driving in your other country, but that may not be an option or reality in your new country. You will learn to adapt such as “comparison is the thief of joy”–which means that if you continue to compare your new life to your old life you won’t be happy. Learn to embrace this entirely new culture and new life that you are building, and it will make it a new and much more joyful experience! Approach the lifestyle as it is in the new country, not focus on the way that it was in your other country.
  2. Make friends that can help you: In this podcast we talk about Connection NOT Perfection, and that applies so much in this situation. You want to partner up with people who can offer you help and insight in your new country. They can point you in the right direction when you are confused. It helps to have that social network around you to tell you the tips that you need to be successful. They can offer you things that you wouldn’t likely learn on your own. These friends are a part of this culture and therefore they can be so helpful when you are adapting to a new country. People are friendly and want to help, so take advantage of this! It can be an isolating experience and if you have friends it makes everything so much easier. The people in this new country and new culture are so very important! People are what make the difference and what make life better, and it’s no different here.
  3. “Be like water”: This means there is no shape to water, and you want to be like that. There is no preconceived shape or expectations, so just figure it out as you go. You have to “go with the flow” and learn to just roll with things. If you can learn to adapt to your environment, then you will be a lot happier. If you go in with certain expectations, then you will likely be let down if those aren’t met. So if you go in with an open mind and ready for changes. Learn to be flexible and grow and change with the circumstances as they come about.

These tips will help you to thrive in this entirely new culture and really make the most out of it.

If you want to learn more about Mitch’s experience and helpful tips, search for him on Small Talk Japan.

You can find his podcast wherever you find your podcasts such as Spotify, YouTube, or Apple Podcast.

Takeaway

Moving to a new country can be both exciting and overwhelming at times.

If you want to make the most of the experience, you have to go in with the right mindset.

These tips can help you to be truly successful in this new environment so that you can really enjoy living abroad.

This can be a wonderful experience, but you want to be sure that you go in with an open mind, a willingness to adapt, and the best tactics to create the life that you truly want.

Bio:

Mitch Stapleton was born and raised in Las Vegas. Ten years ago, he started an English school in the south of Japan, and has since become a local television, radio, and podcast personality. Check out his podcast Small Talk Japan on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you listen.

If you have any questions, please leave them below in the comments section.

We’ll get back to you as soon as we can.

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