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How Can Your Social Networks Help You Adjust in A New Country?
Many expatriates want to know how to better and more quickly get adjusted to their new environment. I recently conducted a worldwide survey to examine the relationship between expatriates’ networks and their adjustment in a new country. Based on the nationality of network contacts, I distinguished an expatriate’s networks in a new environment into two categories: host nationals and home nationals. Host nationals refer to the people from host country, and home nationals are the people from same country with the expat. For example, when a Canadian manager works in Nederland, her Dutch friends are called her host nationals, and Canadian friends are her home nationals.
The responses from 187 expatriates in 48 countries show some interesting findings: (1) Interaction with host nationals can help you to better understand local culture and feel more comfortable in a new environment; (2) Too much interaction with home nationals may delay your adjustment; (3) The ability of using local language can help you live and work better in the new environment. Continue reading
