What do expats find most challenging?

We asked expats and digital nomads what they find the most challenging about the local culture in Lake Atitlan. They wrote...

"Hello, the language...duh...kind of need it to be part of the culture and not separate...helps to function. Using up all my fresh veggies and fruits before they go bad...lol...a juicer helps with this... Sticking to an annual living budget...lol...I want to eat out more than I should in order to supply the need of wanting the company of others... Having some one do my laundry...which is not something I am use to...and then not understanding why she would get upset when I offer to help...true story! Not having easy shopping access to my painting supplies and books! But I knew this before I came... Finally, the reality of being on a vacation is not the same as living here full time...Belize was vacation...here it is like a weirdness...part vacation and part living...sometimes my brain doesn't wrap itself around this idea...so when I am not working I feel like I should be...and when I am working I feel like I should be off exploring...then there is the days where I am happy to be working in paradise and it just feels strange...like pinch me some one...this cannot be for real...lol," remarked another expat who made the move to Lake Atitlan, Guatemala.

"Expatriates often find it challenging to adapt to a new culture and lifestyle, establish relationships, find meaningful employment and navigate the unfamiliar environment of a new country. Many expats struggle to learn a new language, maintain a quality of life comparable to their home country and feel accepted into their new community. Other challenges include understanding different legal systems, obtaining visas or permits, dealing with bureaucracy and finding suitable housing. For some expats, being away from family and friends can be an emotionally trying experience," explained one expat living in Lake Atitlan, Guatemala.

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