SOMETHING REMARKABLE
HAPPENS WHEN WE TAKE
THAT FIRST STEP ON
AN UNFAMILIAR PATH,
SOMETHING DELIGHTFULLY
CHILDLIKE AND EXCITING…
c hoose your
own adventure
If your next season involves a new
location, checking out all the local
attractions around town may be high
on your to-do list. But they won’t
endear you to a new place as much as
the hidden gems you find on the road
less travelled. Set aside the maps and
create some history of your own. When
you happen upon that quirky coffee
shop no one else knows about, it’s
yours – it will be far more special to you
than the well-visited landmarks. Trying
new things is the best way to celebrate
a new chapter in your story. They may
become much-loved traditions.
learn from the locals
When I left home, I was conditioned to
driving everywhere because nothing
(not even the bus stop) was in walking
distance. You can imagine my supreme
elation when I realised that the locals in
my new town had more active modes
of transport! I’ll never forget the day I
stepped off my front porch to make my
maiden voyage on foot – I was so happy
I may have broken out into song. And
then the day came when I locked eyes
with a lovely vintage cruiser and found
myself pedaling past little laneways
like a cast member from The Sound
of Music. (Again, there may have been
some singing involved.) Trust me, the
quickest way to feel like a local in a new
place is to act like one. Following in their
footsteps will save you a lot of legwork!
get involved
There is no better way to manage a
transition than to remind yourself that
it’s not about you! When our world
is turned upside down, we have a
tendency to forget about the needs
of others. That’s the perfect time
to find a cause you’re passionate
about supporting and commit to
it – because if you’re not making a
positive difference right where you
are, you might as well click your heels
three times and go home, Dorothy!
You’ll learn new skills, meet people
with similar interests and above all,
it will have you feeling right at home,
wherever the road leads you.
did you know, Global Interaction team members
participate in a 10 day live-in course before they leave
called Transition Training? It’s designed specifically
for people preparing for cross-cultural mission. It
gives them the heads up, arms them with skills and
encourages a learning posture. How good is that?!
resonate · issue 26 · page 5