Whether you move to a different part of your country or to a new country entirely, adapting to a new culture can be difficult. Different cultures have different sets of norms and values, so regardless of where you come from or where you move, there will be a period of time where you have to adjust to your new norm. Everyone moves through this adjustment period at their own pace, but there are some things you can do to make adapting easier and shorten this adjustment period. Here are a few ways to do so.

Ask Questions

The only way you’ll learn about your new culture is by making an effort to learn, and this includes asking questions. This is a much more up-to-date way to learn about a different way of life than reading a book, as a country’s citizens will be more aware of what to do and not do in the present moment. When asking questions, put some thought into how and when you’ll ask them; doing so will show that you genuinely want to learn about a culture rather than pass judgment based on the person’s answer. Be sensitive with your questions and ensure that the person you ask is in the right space to explain things to you. If they don’t want to talk, drop the subject.

Don’t Judge

What’s inappropriate in your culture could be the norm in another culture—no matter how confused you feel about a country’s cultural norms, do your best to understand why the norm exists in the culture and why things are done the way they are. Working to understand how another culture works can shed some light on different topics, events, and practices. It’s a much better use of our energy to work on understanding others rather than judging them based on what we don’t understand.

Make Mistakes

Know that it’s okay to make mistakes while you adjust to a new culture. It’s inevitable that you will make a few missteps while exploring your new culture; rather than get frustrated, find the funny side of the situation and laugh at them. Others will likely respond to your mistake with friendliness and support, and you can share things about your own culture once that bridge is crossed. It’s likely that people are making judgments about your culture as well; take your mistakes as an opportunity to connect with others while sharing your culture with others.