What They Don't Tell You about Moving Abroad

When I first moved to Prague, I thought that I was relatively prepared.  I had lived in Europe before (in Italy) and I'd visited Prague, which was more than many aspiring English teachers could claim.  I also had the advantage of having some distant Czech relatives in Prague, which eased my mind.  Still, there were some things I learned in the first few months that nothing could have prepared me for.

When you try to pose for Instagram...

You will get sick at first, and it will happen often.

It makes sense if you think about it.  When you first move somewhere far away from home, you're not yet immune to the local nasties.  Perhaps because I moved in autumn, the local nasties took up residence in my respiratory system and hung around for quite some time.  I felt like I was in varying stages of  a cold for the first three to four months of living in Prague, which culminated in a highly unpleasant case of bronchitis.  On the plus side, you will likely learn about the workings of the local pharmacies (pro tip: pharmacies in the Czech Republic are separate from drug stores, and only open from 8 am-6 pm).

You will feel ignorant.

I like to consider myself a well-informed, global person.  Still, prior to moving to the Czech Republic, I couldn't have told you who the president of the country was, what the local attitudes towards sex/drugs/etc. were, or even that there was a debate on changing the official name of the country (on Google Maps the Czech Republic now appears as Czechia).  I was (and am) routinely impressed by the knowledge Czechs and other Europeans have about the US, but knew very little about their countries prior to moving.  The feeling of ignorance can bring you down- I felt that I was confirming an American stereotype that I thought I defied.  However, it also gave me the chance to learn and show that, even though I didn't know much, I was open to learning and enthusiastic about my adopted home.

People will try to take advantage of you for being American.

Due to the aforementioned "ignorant American" stereotype, several people will try to take advantage of you.  When I first moved, I found it very difficult to find an apartment due to several landlords insisting on having Czech-speaking tenants.  Add to this the fact that many people automatically equate being American with being wealthy and, well... there's a strong chance you're going to be charged more for an apartment than your Czech friends.  My rent is still quite a bit less expensive than it was in Chicago, but it's high by local standards.

You will miss strange, random things about home.

The other day, I found myself trying to describe Chicago deep-dish pizza to a European friend and suddenly missing it desperately.  I sometimes get a sudden longing to go for a walk or a run around my old neighborhood in Chicago, or go to my favorite frozen yogurt place, or smell the air in late spring right before a big thunderstorm.  Sometimes I get tired and miss seeing signs and labels in my language so I don't need to translate or guess at meanings.  Homesickness is real, and it comes up in some slightly bizarre ways.

Don't misunderstand me, I love living in Prague and don't regret moving for a moment.  There's little that can prepare you for being an immigrant in a new country.  There will be experiences and trials that you don't anticipate.  The best preparation is an open mind, a lot of courage, and a lot of faith in yourself that you can handle whatever comes at you.