A relocation is not just shipping your possessions, it is moving your life. It is changing from one culture to another and this also means leaving personal, social and professional backgrounds and creating new ones – not only for your, but for your family as well. Although a relocation is an opportunity to develop and learn, it is also fair that one would need a reasonable time to get used to their new environment. Sverre Lysgaard, a Norwegian sociologist, studied this process and identified four steps that most expatriates go through when they arrive into a new destination. It’s worth knowing these four stages so as to be prepared for those moments when you are down. But remember this process it’s just temporary! Stage 1: Bright side Stage As the name suggests, in this stage, you only see the positive things of your new destination. You are thrilled by the new things and changes that come across every day and have an optimistic perspective of the opportunities that lie ahead of you. Stage 2: Crisis Stage or Cultural Shock In this phase, you may perceive that some behaviours, rules and behavioural patterns that you were used to in your home country don’t necessarily apply or work in your new destination. As a result, misunderstanding and sometimes frustration can overwhelm you and a feeling of discomfort in some unfamiliar situations can happen. Stage 3: Getting familiar After some time, you start recognizing the local signals and don’t feel uncomfortable by local behaviours. You start getting used to the local culture and feel at ease to find your way out in social and public life. The cultural shock has significantly decreased! Stage 4: Complete integration Finally, you feel at home and consider yourself integrated and adapted into the local culture. You begin to break your chains and have started making local friends. You start enjoying your new destination and let your worries go. The cultural difference no longer stops you from having a normal life. Remember: Adaptation to a new culture is always full of challenges and is never easy, but the more information, patience and understanding you provide yourself with, the better and faster this adaptation turns out to be. Crown Relocations offers settling-in and orientation services apart from the moving service in Germany to help you better integrate. Contact our local office for more information.