Expat partner Lucia Krajcova explains how reading the Global Connection newsletter and talking to a Global Connection consultant have given her a much needed boost in Zhangjiagang, China.
Initial culture shock
“This was my first time living abroad and my first time in Asia. I definitely experienced culture shock after I arrived. Everything felt so different and I wondered how I would ever be able to adjust,” says Lucia, a 26-year-old Slovakian. “At first I was afraid to leave the apartment complex, partly because I didn’t yet have the internet on my phone. What if I got lost!?”
Seen but not heard
“When I did leave the apartment, I discovered local people can be very curious about me (often stopping to take photos) as I’m very tall and I have blonde hair. I’ve learned to be more accepting of this, even if I still don’t like it,” says Lucia. “But there have also been some days where I haven’t felt visible or heard. As my husband goes to work all day, sometimes I feel isolated. Zhangjiagang is not like Shanghai, where there are many clubs and associations you can join, although I have found a yoga class and managed to meet some other expats, including two Slovakian families!”
Relatable experiences
“Since relocating here, I have always looked forward to receiving the Global Connection newsletter. When I read the stories of other expat partners, they remind me I’m not the only one feeling these emotions and going through this adjustment,” says Lucia, who has learned some ‘survival Chinese’. “I also had a great conversation with Ines Ahrens, my Global Connection consultant. When she contacted me it was such a good feeling: Oh! Someone who knows my name. Someone who understands me. Someone who can listen to me. I felt visible again…”
The journey continues
“It was so good to be able to tell Ines how I really felt. I didn’t expect to have this kind of support, which gave me a real boost as well as some ideas on what I could do here in Zhangjiagang. I still often reflect on the helpful words she shared with me,” says Lucia, who now plans to take a training course to become a TEFL teacher. She also intends to look for a volunteering position. “I’m still adjusting and I still face challenges. But I am also feeling more settled, too!”
Photo: Lucia Krajcova
