Adapting to a New Environment

Adapting to a new place whether it is a school, a job, a new city or a countryside takes time. I don't want to exaggerate because I just moved across the country, it's still the same culture, history, nature, and people I'm familiar with. Moving should be something that I have gotten used to by now. Adaptation should have been relatively easy, but sometimes, I still find myself in a sea of unfamiliarity.

The goal is to feel comfortable because that is the point of having a home. I guess the best thing about my new place is that I don't have to start all over and meet new friends. I am very bad in this area. I already have some friends here that I've known a long time ago and that really makes me feel at home.

There are those who move to a city with all the comfort and conveniences readily available for them. In my case, I've moved to a place that still lacks a lot of things. For example, a paved road going to my apartment. I've seen this quite challenging yesterday as I cycled to the town. It has been raining a lot lately and I almost fell and ate the mud. That was the time I wondered what I got myself into.

Today I feel ill and it must be the water or something that I've eaten this past couple of hours. I bought the drinking water so I'm sure that it's clean. I'm still trying to figure out what's causing my numerous trips to the toilet. Feeling sick is the worst thing and I don't want that to happen to me. We lack proper healthcare around here and I surely cannot afford a private hospital. Anyway, positive thoughts!

Normally, I'm very low maintenance. I hate making a fuss about some petty things. I can't even stand being with fussy people. I can eat and drink wherever and whatever. I like to look more natural so I don't really make such a big effort to look good in front of everyone. But sometimes no matter how strong, independent, and highly adaptable I try to be, there are still things that I need to take care, like my health. Health is wealth. If I'm sickly, it's hard to move around and get things done. I don't want to just lie around and wait for someone to spoonfeed me. I'm here for a reason.

I just try to be grateful for everything that I have instead of focusing on things that I don't have. I believe this is the real key to happiness. But I didn't grow up here so I still need to be careful as the modern conveniences and hospitals are quite far and unaffordable. I need to study my new environment and do as the Romans do. Anyway, I'll stay strong and highly-adaptable.

I'm fine to embrace discomfort but only at some point in my life. I think I have learned enough out of getting out of my comfort zone and embracing unfamiliarity. This time around, it is about being comfortable. But self-sustainability and comfort just don't go hand in hand sometimes. I guess it is just a matter of adapting and learning the ropes.

I don't want to have neighbor or landlord problems anymore so I make sure that I can have a peaceful and stress-free life in my new place. I try to observe and be cautious of reading others' cues when in a new environment. I know I'm also under observation. Ruralites can be a bit judgmental sometimes. I watch how people interact with one another or how they carry themselves. I need to use a bit more judgment than if I am talking with friends. Moving to a new place will not let me know straight away where my boundaries lie with others. It pays to observe and tread with caution my first interactions with someone new.

I know discomfort is all part of the process and it is absolutely vital to run toward what scares me in order to effectively assimilate into my new environment. No matter how much I crave comfort, I still need to push beyond my comfort zone to know what's the best for me. I also need to let go of my attachment to it. I'll soon find out that the more I do it, the easier it becomes and the quicker I will be able to throw myself into whatever change that comes my way.