Fifteen minutes later, I was beginning to think I was in the wrong classroom. The professor didn’t show up for the first day of class until 7:30 a.m.! Being open-minded and patient in situations like this one makes it easier to accept differences between what is “normal” for you, and what is normal for the country you're living in.
Another frustration: I get lost more than I'd like to admit. Every time I need to go to a new part of the city, I assume I will get lost at some point along the way. In order to make my difficulties a learning experience, if I have trouble finding the market, for example, I will pay special attention to the directions and where I went wrong. Then, the next time I go, I can remember what happened previously and recall how to actually get there.
Additionally, I now live in a country where I am not a native speaker! I’ve been practicing Spanish for a few years, but I’m still not fluent. It can be challening when I don’t understand somebody, especially if they are asking me a question or giving me directions! Even more frustrating are the moments where I know what I want to say, but I don’t know how to put it into words! Times like these can make you feel like you don’t truly “fit in.” However, the most effective way to combat these feelings is by learning! If I’m having a conversation and I don’t understand a word, I write it down so I can look it up later. Then, that word will never cause me difficulties again. I always remind myself that the more I learn today, the easier tomorrow will be (and every day after that!).
These strategies have helped me immensely to feel like I'm a part of my new Colombian community.
