How do you manage your life in a new culture? Part of the answer is to do with integration. This is a serious topic. In a time where migration flows become larger and larger integration become more of an issue. But let’s have a look at the individual case, not the large flows of people, but one person or family that gets to live in a new country, city, home and in this new neighborhood.

As with everything there are always two sides.

But be-sides that, obviously the first step in immigration is to learn the local language the next thing is to understand to customs. This might take you already more than a year. But especially the first year is special. Most of all for your expectations. Just that you know.

First your own viewpoint.

You have migrated to another country, you start a new social live and you want to integrate. In a first year you meet the official part of a country with its government institutions the law and rules and lots of paperwork. The other side of the first introduction to a new country is a dialogue with its people. The official part is not the same for everybody. Your home country makes all the difference.

For the unofficial part, the “confrontation” with the people is less dependent on your origin. He the personal touch makes much of the difference. And it starts with the basic as described above: learn the language, customs and (try to) communicate.

But there is one thing you should be aware of in your first year abroad. And that is that your viewpoint of the integration is just that: only your viewpoint. Whatever you intentions are you should not forget to understand the viewpoint of the local people.

The other viewpoint.

This viewpoint may be biased for countries that deal a lot with immigration, like Spain which is the basis for this experience. In this view the local inhabitants have a very strong first reaction to newcomers; “when will they leave again?” This local viewpoint makes perfectly sense. It is the autochthones that get disturbed by newcomers with alien customs and practices. To understand these they need to “invest.” And investment costs time and perhaps money which on its turn requires a certain credibility before taking the leap; and credibility is gained over time, not over a fortnight, nor over a few month but let’s say – a year.

While you think that you can start your new live, others have not made that step yet. You have to convince them that you will stay. Otherwise there is no point in getting to know you.

I often hear people tell me that in Cataluyna this process may take five years; "But if you have managed to become friends with them you are a friend for ever." I personally pass for that. One year should be enough to demonstrate that you will do your best and many people will open up to a certain extent. The rest is perhaps like any other environment. Yet as a immigrant the first year is in fact a waste of time.

© 2007 Hans Bool

Hans Bool is the founder of Astor White a traditional management consulting company that offers online management tools. Have a look at some of our free management tools