subject: Coping with working away from home [print this page] Whether you're relocating abroad or just spending a lot of your time away from home on business trips, leaving behind your loved ones and acclimatising to life in foreign countries can take a lot of commitment. While some people may view working away from home as being like taking holidays, the reality is a lot less pleasant for many business travellers, though anyone suffering from home sickness or culture shock can help ease the transition in a number of ways.
There are two main differences between taking holidays abroad and working in other countries. The first, of course, is that you will be working rather than spending time unwinding, and the second is that you will usually end up spending a lot more time in the country and having to adapt to local customs, to some extent. Living abroad can present a challenge as newcomers struggle to acclimatise to everything from local culture and mannerisms to the weather.
If you'll be staying for an extended period, doing all you can to adapt to the new place you're living in can help a great deal towards you feeling like the place is 'home.' By embracing the local social scene and nightlife at community hangouts, you can meet like-minded people in similar situations or simply take the opportunity to make valuable friends in your local area.
As much as you embrace your new place of residence, it's equally important not to forget the people who care about you back home. Looking at photos of friends and family is now more convenient than ever, thanks to the internet, and likewise it's now easier to make cheap calls to mobiles from a wide range of countries to stay in touch. Even bringing some of your favourite music from home - easily achievable when your songs are stored on your laptop or MP3 player - can stop you feeling too alienated, as well as help you appreciate what you've left behind.
Working away from home doesn't have to mean losing contact. By working hard during the week and making sure your weekends and days off are free of any work commitments, you'll have more time to spend travelling back to see your family or otherwise conversing with them. You should check whether your place of employment offers flexible hours to help you make the most of your free time and avoid having to make gruelling night-time journeys to get back to the office first thing on Monday morning.
