The situation has forced you to leave your country, and the process of adaptation truly terrifies you. You’re essentially starting everything from scratch – looking for housing, work, schools for children, and handling documents. There are many people in the situation of forging new paths, having decided to leave their homeland for various reasons – now they can pass on their knowledge to Ukrainian refugees who have decided to settle in Poland for an extended period due to the war.
The most important thing is to gradually, consistently, and according to a plan, get to know what is new. If we approach the matter calmly and “with a clear head,” the unknown will quickly turn into the known, and day by day we will gain more self-confidence. Thanks to this, we will feel safer, and maybe even “at home.” To facilitate this process for you, we present below some practical tips regarding adaptation in a new place and in a new situation.
First of all – learn as much as possible
In today’s world, access to information is so facilitated that wherever we go, we have the opportunity to learn almost everything about our destination. The internet is a treasure trove of knowledge that will help us at least theoretically delve into the customs prevailing in the country where we intend to settle and allow for preliminary reconnaissance. While seeking information online, you need to be cautious not to be misled – warns Marta Kobinska of Bravecare, a company specializing in connecting workers with employers in Europe, selecting people with the right qualifications, negotiating working conditions and accommodation on-site, as well as organizing transport and ensuring continuous employment.
In the virtual world, we will find many travel advertisements, travel reports, and unchecked job offers, for example. Incredibly attractive job opportunities. All of this will certainly stimulate our imagination but will have little to do with reality. Therefore, it is worth contacting people who know the realities prevailing in a given place. You can check, for example, groups on FB for this purpose, join community members, and take advantage of a handful of practical advice on topics that interest us. It is also worth contacting organizations in the country and asking for information on where to find the first accommodation or tips on documents necessary for finding work on-site.
You can also use the help of a reliable company such as Bravecare, which intermediates in arranging all formalities related to work and accommodation. Many people consciously choose this option when deciding to stay in a foreign country for an extended period.
Secondly – learn the language
Overcoming the language barrier will undoubtedly make things much easier. The most terrifying aspect for many immigrants is the awareness of the difficulties posed by the inability to communicate easily. Therefore, enrolling in a language course is the best idea to start with – says Jaroslaw Dobrowolski, who, as a coordinator at Bravecare, supports Poles who decide to work in Germany every day.
Knowledge of the language is a chance to efficiently handle mundane matters such as shopping or getting from point A to point B by public transport. It is also the key to finding a job suitable for our education. Even if for some time we use the help of volunteers from an organization supporting foreigners or a company mediating in organizing all household matters, we will soon have to manage in our daily contacts with the environment on our own.
Agata Strzałka writes about her language adventures in her book “I Haven’t Gone Crazy Yet (I Don’t Think)”, where she worked in several European countries as a senior caregiver. Describing the story of the main character, which is her alter ego, she amusingly conducts language-breaking dialogues, outlining the picture of people learning to communicate in ordinary everyday matters. Starting from: “I am Edyta. I understand little German. I work well. I have a heart,” through “Is the disease lying here?” when the main character is looking for an acquaintance in the hospital, to “Do I walk well?” – when she asks a random passerby to point the right direction. From my perspective, it seems that those were very funny situational scenes, but at that time, honestly, I wasn’t laughing,” confesses the author of the book. However, I quickly drew conclusions from my difficult experiences and realized that without knowledge of the language, I simply wouldn’t be able to take care of basic things, develop in my work, or get to know new people, but I would never feel safe, and that would prevent me from enjoying my new life! What could I do – I had to learn! And even though it seemed very difficult, I did it!
Thirdly – take care of your safety
The most ordinary day in a new place can seem like a challenge. However, you have to grab the bull by the horns and just start acting – says Agata Strzałka. Of course, every outing from home requires courage, but even when it’s lacking, a positive attitude makes a lot easier. It’s worth approaching the organization in a new country a bit like an adventure – with such an attitude, life takes on a glow. Of course, I realize that people are in different situations – they are blocked by fear or traumatic memories – but it’s worth focusing on the here and now and not adding more worries! It is necessary to act cautiously – to ask, check, learn from mistakes, and draw from the experience of other people – in order not to fall into further trouble.
Above all, you have to take care of your safety – this is very important! – points out Marta Kobinska of Bravecare. That’s why we initiated the #LegalnieOdpowiedzialnie campaign. – We want to highlight various aspects related to life as an immigrant and draw attention to the fact that beyond the country’s borders, it is always worth taking up legal employment – regardless of the role you take. During our campaign, we will emphasize the benefits of legal employment, draw attention to the risks associated with so-called “black work,” and discuss factors that are worth considering to feel safe in a new place. I am convinced that our message is particularly important today when so many people from Ukraine are looking for permanent work in Poland. Finding legal employment can be the beginning of stability for them, which will help them survive forced emigration for as long as necessary.
The article was published in:
- https://techno-senior.com/2022/05/20/jak-odnalezc-na-emigracji-siebie-i-bezpieczna-prace
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- http://eduhobby.pl/jak-odnalezc-na-emigracji-siebie-i-bezpieczna-prace/
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- http://www.businessmantoday.us/pl/https-bravecare-pl/
- https://biznes.newseria.pl/biuro-prasowe/problemy_spoleczne/jak-odnalezc-na,b1513007319
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