Embrace the Unexpected

Life has a way of surprising us when we least expect it. The journey of adapting to living in a foreign country often takes us through a maze of unpredictability and unfamiliar customs.🌍Since my husband and I moved to Salvador, Brazil, I've discovered that my life is far less predictable than it was back in the United States. This unpredictability arises from a combination of cultural differences, the volatility of living in a foreign country, and the occasional lapses in communication. In this blog, I'll share a story that encapsulates the essence of unexpected experiences and highlight how these moments provide valuable lessons about embracing the unknown. 🤷‍♀️

Roberto and I were aware that living in a new country brings volatility, uncertainty, complexity, and ambiguity – characteristics that are collectively known as VUCA. But little did we know just how often these qualities would manifest in our daily lives. Here’s a simple example. In Brazil, it's common for friends and family to make unannounced visits. The only warning you might get is the security guard confirming the visitor at the gate. In the US, it was more common for friends to contact us to plan visits in advance or at least send us a text message beforehand. 🏡📅

My husband's lapses in communication create even more unpredictability. Last week, my husband was away on a business trip and when he’s away, he sometimes forgets to relay important information to me. This oversight can lead to amusing yet sometimes awkward situations. 😅📱🗨️

One of these incidents happened last week. It was a sunny🌞Saturday morning and I had a cookout to attend. Since it was the weekend, I was taking my sweet time getting ready. Around 11:00 AM I finally hopped into the shower. 🚿I was expecting to have a relaxing morning, but life had other plans. 😌

As the warm water cascaded down while I was washing my hair, I suddenly heard the doorbell ring and my two dogs were barking excitedly. 🚪Panic surged through me as I realized I had unexpected visitors. I scrambled out of the shower, throwing on some clothes as quickly as possible. 🏃‍♀️By the time I made it downstairs, my heart pounding, I found my in-laws comfortably settled in my living room, sporting friendly smiles. I was completely surprised. 😱

Roberto had forgotten to mention that they would visit. My in-laws are supportive and kind people who want to make sure that I had everything I needed and that I wasn’t facing a challenge that I couldn’t navigate on my own with my limited Portuguese skills. Their intentions were good but they didn’t understand that Americans expect some advance notice before receiving visitors. We had a good laugh about this. 😄🤣🤝

 Adapting to life in Brazil involves a constant dance with the unexpected. It is about navigating my own little VUCA world and making peace with the fact that plans can change in an instant. Here are a few tips for getting more comfortable when living in a culture with different norms. 🕺💃🌎

⭐Be Flexible: embrace the unexpected and be open to spontaneous moments. Life’s plot twists can be fun and often lead to memorable moments. 🤗

⭐Communicate: clear communication helps avoid misunderstandings and ensures that everyone is on the same page. 🗨️✉️📢

⭐Respect Differences: rather than resisting cultural differences, it is often easier to accept and embrace them – go with the flow. By adapting your mindset and behaviors, you will experience less stress in your new environment. 🤝🌍🌊

⭐Find the Silver Lining: While unexpected situations can be challenging, they often lead to personal growth and some interesting stories. 🌟📚🎉