It means making both myself and my hosts feel comfortable with my being here.
The first step to me culturally integrating was managing my expectations...by having as few as possible! It was tempting, at first, to imagine what life would be like in México (thinking of all of the things I would do, the kind of house I would live in, how I would be excited to meet new people and how they would be just as excited to meet me). However, deciding not to create expectations was one of the best decisions I’ve made. Instead of creating assumptions (and perhaps even stereotypes), I decided to take it one day at a time and try to learn and understand more about the culture during the nine months I have here.
Another step I’ve taken to help me culturally integrate is being sociable. Feeling homesick isn’t fun, so I make sure to go to new places and strike up conversations with different people as much as possible. So far, it has worked wonders! Having my new friends invite me to dinner with their families or outside to play a lively game of soccer, makes Mérida feel like a home away from home. I also treasure the weekends that I invite them to my house to make delicious dishes that are popular in the United States. I love that I also get to share a bit of my culture with them! These experiences help me integrate into my new community and create memories that will last a lifetime.
Those are just a few methods I use to culturally integrate to México. What do you do to integrate yourself to a new experience, place, or culture?
