5 Coping Strategies for Introverted Expats | TISOT Ep. 10
Episode Summary:
As remote working has become more of the norm, more and more people have chosen to relocate to a country in which they have always dreamed of living. (Barbados, anyone?) These new expats not only have to adjust to their new home, but also find ways to fit in and not feel like outsiders. This tends to be easy for extroverts, but for introverts, not so much. In their latest Off-Topic episode, Sharon and Lisa share their experiences as lifelong expats, and strategies for how introverts can have an easier, more enjoyable expat journey.
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3 Big Takeaways:
- On who gets to be an expat: “The difference between an “expat” and an “immigrant” is often a matter of hue.”
- On finding new friends: “All skin folk ain’t kin folk. The people that you might get along with best might not necessarily look like you or share your background.”
- On why reading is a resource: “Being widely read and travelled allows you to be able to have conversations on a wide range of topics with a relative amount of expertise.”
5 Key Quotes:
- “As an introvert, being an outsider is not difficult, because you tend to prefer your own company and be able to entertain yourself.”
- “Know what you enjoy doing, and find/re-create the same activities in your new home.”
- “As an introvert, interact with people just enough so that you’re not a loner, but not so much that you feel overwhelmed.”
- “You don’t have to say yes to every social engagement, but say yes to some of them.”
- “Find one friend. Find one activity. The rest of the time you can be in your bubble, observing.”
By The Numbers:
- 1:09 – Do expats remain permanent outsiders?
- 1:29 – The difference between an expat and an immigrant.
- 4:01 – Lisa explains why she deliberately lost her Trinidadian accent.
- 16:27 – Strategies for coping with being an outsider/expat.
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