CALL: 718-768-6778

Adjusting to Brooklyn as a foreigner

badge-image
badge-image
badge-image
badge-image
badge-image
badge-image

Being a foreigner is never easy. Usually, the farther you relocate, the more difficult it will be for you to adjust. Without a doubt, you will miss your old town, your family and friends, and sometimes even language. If you are moving to Brooklyn, consider yourself lucky. You are moving to one of the best and most active boroughs of New York City. And if you bother to dig deeper, you will see that adjusting to Brooklyn as a foreigner can be done without a lot of pain and anguish. And before you move in and start adjusting, you need to take care of the move. For that, make sure that you find good and reliable movers like U.Santini Moving & Storage to help you move to Brooklyn easily. Here are some tips and some advice for how to adjust after moving to Brooklyn as a foreigner.

Fully prepare yourself before moving to Brooklyn

Moving to New York, or any of its boroughs, is a complicated task. After all, they say that New York is the center of the world for a reason. Don`t get us wrong. Living in New York is a life-changing event, it is the moving part that can be difficult. Therefore, before moving to New York or Brooklyn, prepare yourself beforehand. What does this preparation we keep mentioning mean? Glad you asked!

To adjust to life in Brooklyn after your relocation, you first need to learn everything about your future city. Learn about the loved places, good schools, and universities, and famous restaurants. But before anything else, get familiar with the international moving companies NYC – based. You will need a reputable moving company to handle your belongings. Moreover, it goes without saying that you also need to find a comfortable living space according to your budget and taste. Learning all of these things before moving will help you get adjusted to Brooklyn as a foreigner later on

Man using a laptop to do the research so that he can make easier adjusting to Brooklyn as a foreigner
It is important to learn more about the place where you are going to live and take your time to research it

Before adjusting to Brooklyn as a foreigner, you are bound to experience culture shock

Keep in mind that before you are able to adjust to a new environment, you will have to go through a stage called the culture shock. The mentioned culture shock can sometimes be experienced with negative feelings and sometimes with positive feelings. However, there is a 99 percent certainty that at some point you will feel melancholy and sadness set in. Just bear in mind that those feelings are normal and are a vital part of adjusting to life in Brooklyn as a foreignerAnd for most people the so called culture shock is quite positive because they are enjoying a new environent with so many options and diversity.  You can start exploring Brooklyn already while your full service movers NYC are taking care of the move for you. Visit some local resturants for example.

People experiencing a culture shock are bound to make comparisons between the new culture and the old one. Moreover, they tend to focus on stereotypes and prejudices and get homesick. Once those feelings kick in, which they will remind yourself that everything will be okay. Also, in those moments it helps to do some activity that relaxes you and gets your mind off of worries. Yoga, for example, is always a good stress-reliever.

If you are moving a business make sure that you plan it well

Brooklyn can be chaotic, just like the whole of New York City. And that is why it is important to plan the move well, especially if you are moving a business. Because you want to have minimal disruptions in business and start working as soon as possible. And to ensure that it is important to hire reliable and experienced commercial movers NYC. Because experienced commercial movers are going to know how to efficiently and safely move your business to Brooklyn. And most importantly, they are going to respect the deadlines upon which you have agreed. So it is well worth the money to hire reliable and experienced commercial movers. Just make sure that you find good movers, you can ask friends and business partners for recommendations. And if you are going to search for movers online, make sure that you thoroughly check the reviews. And always ask the movers for references.

Top view photo of people sitting at table with laptops
Plan the move of your business well and coordinate it with everyone so that you have minimal disruption in business

Create a social circle upon your arrival in Brooklyn

Having friends is one of the most important things in life. Friends are the people who will always be there to cheer us on and be with us in good times and in bad times. Hence, it is important to mingle and try to meet new people after moving to Brooklyn. Your new friends will tremendously help with adjusting to Brooklyn as a foreigner. However, not all of us are social butterflies. Some people have a problem connecting with people and making new friends. Here are a couple of ideas on how you can meet new people without the pressure of having to engage with the ones that are not to your preferences:

  • Join sports clubs. Doing sports will help you with adjusting to Brooklyn as a foreigner in more ways than one. Sports clubs are a great way for meeting new people while at the same time staying fit in Brooklyn.
  • Different educational clubs, such as a chess club or a drama club are also a good way of meeting new people that share your interests.
  • Enroll in a language class. You will find people who share a passion for languages and we are sure you can bond over a cup of coffee and homework for the next class.

Now that you see you have many options, we hope you will be courageous to try some of them. And, after you meet your new friends, how about you visit some of the best movie theaters in Brooklyn? You will for sure enjoy it a lot. And you can take some of your new friends with you.

A woman climbing a bouldering wall
There are all kinds of sports clubs you can join to meet new people while having fun and staying fit

Downsizing is an inevitable part of adjusting to Brooklyn as a foreigner

You are most likely going to live in a smaller apartment, like most people. So downsizing is one of the most important things to take care of when moving to Brooklyn. And it is one of the best Brooklyn moving tips. You don’t want to end up cluttering your new home because you can’t fit in nicely all your things. So before the move, and before you start packing, take care of downsizing. Get rid of all the things you don’t want or don’t need anymore. You can even sell some of them to make some money before the move. The rest of the things you can either give to friends and family or donate. And you can also simply just throw them away. Downsizing before moving to Brooklyn is also going to make the move cheaper since you are going to be bringing fewer things.

If you are going to be needing storage, make sure that you find a good one

While the above-mentioned downsizing is the best way to deal with the problem of bringing too many things. If you simply can’t get rid of some things and you won’t have space in your new apartment for them. Then getting a storage unit is the best option. You want to make sure that you are renting a storage unit from a reputable company. So take your time when researching and make sure that you rent a storage unit from someone reliable. And make sure that the storage units are properly protected so that you don’t have to worry about someone stealing your things. There are a lot of good storage companies NYC and it shouldn’t be too hard to find one that suits your needs. You can also ask your movers if they offer storage services. By including it in the move they might give you a small discount.

Storage units
Storage unit can be very useful when moving home

Make yourself comfortable

Take your time researching and exploring Brooklyn to find an apartment that you like the most. And then furnish it so that it feels like home and so that it’s comfortable. This is going to take away a lot of stress of moving to a new city and living in a new home. Since you are going to have one place where you feel safe and comfortable. And it’s best for that place to be your home where you are going to spend a lot of time. Make sure that you also have access to everything that you might need. From fast internet to laundry machines, and everything else that you are going to be needing to make your life easy and comfortable in your new home. This will make adjusting to Brooklyn as a foreigner much easier and less stressful.

Woman reading a book and adjusting to Brooklyn as a foreigner
Adjusting to Brooklyn as a foreigner will be much easier once you make yourself comfortable in your new home

Get involved with local activities

Each neighborhood has it’s own specific local events. And there is a lot of them in every neighborhood, so you can easily find some that you find interesting. From a yard sale, to volunteering, taking a class, and many other things. This is also a great way to meet new people, specifically your neighbors. Which then can lead to more events in your neighborhood and in the city, and it’s a great way to make friends. And all of this will make you feel more at home in Brooklyn and in your neighborhood. It is important to make a good connection with people where you live if you want to  adjust to Brooklyn as a foreigner.

Keep in touch with the people back home

You will not be able to properly adjust to your new life in Brooklyn if you do not let yourself go every once in a while. Letting yourself go means acknowledging your sadness and frequently talking with the people you left back home. Let`s face it, no one can give you a better pep talk than your parents or close friends. Adjusting to Brooklyn as a foreigner will be much easier when you know you have the needed support. However, there is such a thing as overdoing it. Remember, you also need to dedicate enough time to your new social circle. Moderation is the key!

As you can see, adjusting to Brooklyn as a foreigner is a process that begins well before your move, and sometimes never ends. There will always be a piece of you that will long for your hometown. But with time you are going to get used to Brooklyn and it will feel like home. There is certainly a lot to love and enjoy in this amazing borough. On that note, we have a useful piece of advice for you. They say that good food can make any situation better. Luckily for you, there will be great dining in Brooklyn at your disposal after moving there. Satisfy all of your urges!

Woman on a laptop searching how to adjust to Brooklyn as a foreigner
There are many ways to stay in touch with your loved ones

Take your time to adjust when moving to Brooklyn as a foreigner

Keep in mind that it is a process and that it requires quite a lot of time to adjust to a new country. So take things as they come and do it one step at a time. Eventually, you are going to get used to the pace of the city, and to the way things are done. And you are probably going to enjoy it. But always keep in mind that it takes time and that you can’t rush it. So go into it with patience and understanding that it’s a long process. But with time it gets easier and easier, and most importantly – fun! And keeping in mind that it’s going to get better and better and that you are going to enjoy Brooklyn a lot will also help you deal with moving and adjusting to Brooklyn as a foreigner and New York City.

These guys are TRUE PROFESSIONALS! We've now moved with them twice (once in 2017 and then again this week) and we really can't say enough good things about them. Simi is incredibly easy to work with for scheduling and quotes, and the crews - John, Super Mario, and everyone - are just awesome. They're quick, incredibly careful and conscientious, and super friendly. If we ever move again (and god I hope we don't have to) we're absolutely calling them.

Allison "Elnoods" N.

From Brooklyn, NY

Call Us Today

CALL: 718-768-6778

Frequently Asked Questions

U.Santini Moving & Storage Brooklyn has built its reputation on honesty and transparency. We are here to answer all your questions and put your mind at ease when choosing our Brooklyn movers:

What are your working hours?

We are open from Monday to Friday 7:30 AM–5 PM but feel free to contact us through our contact form anytime. We'll get back to you ASAP.

Does U.Santini offer insurance?

Yes. Our company offers several different types of insurance protection, including a full replacement for your belongings. The cost of the coverage will depend on the value you declare for your goods and the level of deduction you select.

How soon should I schedule my move?

It is recommended to arrange for the services of a moving company at least 8 weeks ahead of your planned move. If you plan to move during the holiday season or in the summer, it is advisable to schedule the move 12 weeks in advance. However, for moves that occur between September and May, you may be able to book movers with just 2 weeks' notice. Ideally, you should secure your moving crew as soon as you have all the necessary information about your relocation.

Does your company offer packing supplies?

We do. In addition to providing you with the essential boxes and packing supplies required for your relocation, we offer several "Saver" packages tailored to the size of your home. If you do not use all the boxes you have bought, you can return them to the moving team at the end of your move, and we will reimburse the remaining amount.

What type of storage does your company offer?

U. Santini Moving & Storage Brooklyn provides comprehensive storage solutions in climate-controlled units. Our units are supervised round-the-clock, ensuring the safety of your belongings, whether you store them for a short or long duration. Additionally, we offer storage services for very brief periods, including as little as 24 hours.

Areas We Serve

Our professionalism and experience extend throughout the boroughs of New York City. If you want a tailored moving process with a responsive team of our Brooklyn-based movers, get your quote today!