October 29, 2025 
6 mins to read The first time you order coffee in a new country, it hits you. Not the caffeine, the culture. In Spain, you’ll get a cortado before you’ve even sat down. In Greece, it might be a long wait for a strong, sweet frappé. In the UAE, your order comes in perfect English, but there are unspoken rules about when and where to drink it. These everyday moments are what make working abroad more than just a job. They turn your move into a full immersion course in how other people live.
Whether you are finding a job abroad or considering moving abroad to a completely different part of the world, adapting to culture is the skill that shapes your entire experience.
Culture shock has a rhythm
When you start working abroad, you go through phases. At first, everything feels exciting and new. This is the honeymoon stage. Then comes the frustration: paperwork, unexpected routines, even food that does not taste the way you expect. That is when many people experience being homesick abroad.
If you stick with it, you reach the adjustment stage. You stop comparing everything to home and begin to enjoy the differences. Knowing this rhythm helps you stay calm. Feeling disoriented does not mean you are failing, it means you are adapting.
The language that never makes it into phrasebooks
Most people who are finding a job abroad land in English-speaking roles or jobs in their first language, but the real culture happens outside of work. Shopping, commuting and greeting colleagues are shaped by unspoken rules.
In Spain, a cheerful “¿Qué tal?” is worth more than perfect grammar. In Greece, body language and tone are as important as the words. In Brazil, expressiveness is expected, so a flat voice can feel distant. Even in Malta, where English is everywhere, local phrases carry meaning and warmth.
Learning these small signals helps you feel less like a visitor and more like someone who belongs.
Dinner at 10 pm, lunch at 3 pm
Food is one of the clearest maps of cultural difference when you are working abroad. Northern Europeans who eat lunch at noon and dinner at six often find themselves hungry at the wrong times.
In Spain, dinner at 10 pm is normal. In Malta, the schedule is a mix of British and Mediterranean habits. In the UAE, work breaks follow different patterns, sometimes shaped by prayer times. In Brazil, social meals stretch for hours.
At first, these new rhythms feel uncomfortable, but soon you realise you are adjusting. Many expats take those habits home and still crave late-night dinners long after they leave Spain.
From punctual to flexible
Time is a cultural language of its own. If you grew up in Scandinavia, where being five minutes early is expected, you will need to adjust your expectations.
In Brazil, being “on time” can mean arriving twenty minutes later. In Greece, schedules often bend, but social warmth fills the gap. In the UAE, precision is valued in business, yet traffic and heat make delays common.
Treating time differences as a skill instead of a frustration helps you thrive while working abroad. You are not losing punctuality, you are learning to adapt.
Five destinations, five lessons
Spain – Patience pays off
Bureaucracy can move slowly, but social life is vibrant and meals are long. Spain teaches you to slow down and value connection.
Greece – Community is everything
Family ties are strong, and colleagues may treat you as part of theirs. Expect invitations to meals, lively discussions and endless coffee.
Malta – A blend of influences
English makes life easier, but Maltese traditions give the island its own personality. You quickly feel at home, yet notice the unique culture.
UAE – Tradition and ambition side by side
An international workforce thrives in modern offices, while traditions shape daily life. Respect for local customs is essential.
Brazil – Life is loud and social
Expressiveness is normal. People laugh, hug and connect easily. Once you let go of reserve, you feel the energy everywhere.
Practical ways to adapt when working abroad
- Observe before you act. Watch how people greet each other, how colleagues communicate, how queues work.
- Build small rituals. If you are being homesick abroad, create a grounding habit such as a weekly call, a favourite playlist or a dish from home.
- Say yes to invitations. Even if you are tired, join in. These moments build bridges into the culture.
- Accept mistakes. You will take the wrong bus or use the wrong word. Laugh, learn and keep going.
- Treat every moment as a lesson. Each new experience, from grocery shopping to office meetings, shows you another way to live.
Tools that make culture easier
To compare your home culture with your destination, try the Hofstede Insights cultural comparison tool. It shows differences in values such as individualism or time orientation, which can explain why things feel unfamiliar at first.
For advice on dealing with culture shock, Expatica’s guide to culture shock gives clear tips that help many young expats.
Final thoughts
At its core, working abroad is more than earning a salary. It is an opportunity to discover how many ways there are to live. You will miss home sometimes, you will stumble, and then you will realise that those very moments are what make you stronger.
Culture shock is not something you defeat, it is something you learn to move with. Once you do, every new country feels less like a challenge and more like an open door.
So whether you are finding a job in Europe or moving abroad to a place that feels far from home, remember that adapting to culture allows you to grow in ways you could never plan for.
If you are ready to explore your own path of working abroad, you do not have to do it alone. At Job Squad, our recruiters know what it feels like to take the first step into a new country. They can help you find the right role, guide you through the move, and support you while you adapt. You can get in touch with one of our recruiters today and start planning your next chapter abroad.
