Finding Calm Away From Home

What it really means to arrive somewhere new

Moving to a new country is one of the most exciting things a person can do. At the same time it can be one of the most demanding things the nervous system will ever be asked to do. When we move to a different country, we go through what Oberg describes as a honeymoon phase, which feels energising and full of possibility. But when the novelty wears off, frustration creeps in and adjusting to a new language and culture can start to feel exhausting. From the outside your life looks exciting. On the inside the nervous system is working overtime. Gradually we begin to adjust, build new routines and gain a sense of belonging. Most people move back and forth between these states rather than progressing through them in a straight line.

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Research by Hofstede also shows that cultures differ fundamentally in their values, communication styles and social norms. What feels warm in one culture can feel cold in another. What feels respectful can feel aggressive. These differences are felt in the body before they are understood by the mind. This is why navigating a new culture is exhausting even on good days.

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Shared creative practice is one of the most accessible ways to begin building a sense of belonging in a new place. Making something alongside others who understand your experience is itself a form of nervous system support.

 

What we explore together

Each session opens with a grounding practice and a short reflection, then moves into making. The pace is yours and nothing needs to be finished.

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Across the series we build a personal map of your journey. It grows session by session, layer by layer, into a single mixed media piece that tells the story of where you have been and where you are going.

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We begin by looking back at what excited you most about moving to a foreign country. We then explore the cultural values you carry with you and how they shape the way you experience this new place. We make space for what you left behind and what you miss, and explore how those things can still be part of who you are here. We close by looking forward, exploring what belonging means to you and what you need to begin putting down new roots.

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What you take with you

A personal map of your journey, a mixed media piece that captures where you came from, what you carry with you and what belonging is beginning to look like in this new place. A clearer understanding of the phases of cultural adaptation and the reassurance that what you are experiencing is normal. A small creative practice you can return to when the overwhelm creeps back in. And a community of people who understand your experience from the inside.

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This series might be for you if

• You chose to move to a new country and are looking for connection

• You want to understand that what you are going through is a normal and well-documented process

• You feel overwhelmed by the experience of adapting to a new culture

• You have settled in but still feel like something is missing

• You enjoy art-making or are curious to explore it as a way of making sense of your experience
   

This series is designed for people who chose to move, including international students, expats and newcomers to Canada. If you arrived under different circumstances and are looking for support, I would be happy to point you toward resources that may be a better fit.

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Format & Booking

This workshop can be booked as a single 90-minute to 2-hour session, or as a deeper series of 3 or 6 sessions, 90 minutes each.

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In-person sessions include all materials. Online sessions require a small set of basic supplies that participants bring themselves. A materials list is sent ahead of time.

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This series is available to organizations, community partners and individuals. If you would like to bring this to your community or team, or join an upcoming individual session, I would love to hear from you.

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