Expats struggle to adapt in Luxembourg culture mishmash

Luxembourg's patchwork of cultures from more than 100 different countries can make it harder to adapt for people newly arrived to the Grand Duchy, a coach who helps expats cope with such problems said.

Living in a place where almost half of the people are foreigners may make it relatively easy to make friends from your own country, but can make it harder to integrate in Luxembourg, said Karla Jacinto, who coaches expats on how to overcome feelings of isolation.

"When you move to a foreign country you can usually work on learning the cultural norms but in Luxembourg that's not possible," Jacinto said. "There's no specific code to follow in Luxembourg because most people behave differently, due to their own culture." 

“Expats need to focus on their wellbeing and not put too much pressure on themselves too soon

Expats don't stand out in Luxembourg, because the population is so diverse, but the challenge is trying to adapt to the multitude of cultural norms at work and among friends.

Many people who arrive in Luxembourg try to find friends from their home country to be able to speak their mothertongue, said Jacinto, who is Brazilian.

"This is good to a certain extent because putting too much pressure on yourself to integrate and avoiding people from your country can cause anxiety," she added. "But you also need to be able to accept new things when you move abroad."

For many, learning Luxembourgish, French or German becomes a priority, but Jacinto says this should not be the main focus.

Speaking such a local language helps newcomers get by, but it can also add to already high  pressure to have to reach fluency in two or three new languages, and cause anxiety.

“You need to be able to accept new things when you move abroad

"Expats need to focus on their wellbeing and not put too much pressure on themselves too soon," she said.

Many problems that expats face, for instance at work, come down to the way they feel in their new country. Feeling emotionally unwell can leave people believing they are unable to achieve their employer’s expectations.

Feeling emotionally content can also have a positive impact at the workplace, and a hobby or other project can help.

"People need to have projects and that can start before even arriving in Luxembourg," she said. "It's important to have an objective – it can be a hobby, travelling, joining new groups to meet new people."

Jacinto will be speaking at the HR Lux Trade Fair – Luxembourg's first HR fair – on Friday.

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