What to Expect When Moving From Small Town Comfort to Big City Calamity - Part Two

This is part two of a series designed to inform you of some of the challenges to expect when moving from a small town to a big city. Part two will both give you a couple of other differences to expect, and then give you some tips so you know how to overcome those challenges.

Another potential downside of moving from small town to big city is how much trust you can have in people. I once dated a man from a small town in Ireland. I felt awful for him one day when we met for lunch and he told me that a man in the street approached him, told him he had an urgent situation and needed to call his family, but had no money. He asked my boyfriend to loan him a few dollars, which he promised to return. So, my boyfriend, being accustomed to honest, well-intentioned people, loaned the man $20. The man then ran off, never to return.

Transportation can be overwhelming in a big city. If you're used to walking, or perhaps the "Main Street bus", you'll find the metro or subway like navigating veins and arteries in the bloodstream - impossible to follow or make sense of until you get used to how they function, which lines work best, and best points to transfer lines. And, on the streets, you'll shift from slow traffic to what feels like a race car track you're trying to walk across during the Indie 500!

Now that we've looked at some shifts to expect, let me leave you with a few tips on how you can make the transition a bit easier, and find some familiarity among the "iron jungle":

1. If you feel overwhelmed by the height and proximity of city buildings, find the nearest park and spend time there as often as possible. Being in nature is a great way to literally expand the horizon and take a break. If the park doesn't do it for you, then take a train or a bus to a nearby town on the weekends. This will both help you escape the big buildings, and potentially even help you find some "small town" familiarity.

2. Join a local club, organization, sports team, etc. It's a lot easier to meet people, and more likely you'll become friends, if you find a way to do something that happens repeatedly on a weekly or even monthly, basis. The more you see the same people, the more inclined they will be to get to know you.

3. It's unfortunate, but in a big city, you do need to watch your wallet. I suggest you offer your money to charity rather than hand-outs to every person that asks you. (And, in a big city, there are a lot of people that will ask you for money, so you'll quickly go broke if you oblige!)

4. Keep your eyes open for a local store or café that reminds you of home. Even in a large city, there are places that, once inside, may have items that remind you of something special from the place you've moved from. They may even have a slower pace of life - perhaps just a few people, and a sense of timelessness. If you happen across one, write down the name and address and visit once in a while.

5. Give yourself permission to adjust. It will take some time. If you can keep a journal, it will be a great place for you to review every few weeks to observe how overwhelm or fear might be shifting to confidence and happiness. Make sure to reward yourself when it does happen!

6. Hire an Expat Coach - they have gone through the same changes as you, and can be an excellent resource to help you with the transition process.

Are you planning a move from a small town to a big city, or around the world? Don't leave without a copy of The Relocation Success Guide at http://www.relocationsuccessguide.com!