Stop 1
Planning the Move
Relocating to a new country demands significant effort and patience, particularly when navigating bureaucratic procedures. Upon arrival, the first stage of adaptation begins. This is the initial pause after a cycle of concerns—a moment to rest, to look around, to play at being a tourist. Yet even in a new place, new challenges emerge: learning the city’s layout, communicating in a foreign language, battling bureaucracy, or simply attempting to buy ingredients for a familiar recipe. The “tourist mode” quickly ends. Fatigue accumulates from suppressed feelings of powerlessness, frustration with one’s own limitations, and dashed hopes invested in life in a new country. Nevertheless, as with any emotion, it is essential to acknowledge and experience it to move forward.
I am standing at the bus stop, waiting for bus number 84. It is always late, yet I never lose hope that it might arrive on time. Somehow, waiting for this bus reminds me of waiting for a visa extension to be approved. Each application comes with its own list of required documents, a set processing period, and everything seems precise and clearly defined. The Act on the Residence of Foreign Nationals sets a standard processing period of 60 days from submission.
Stop 2
The Experience of Loss
A central aspect of migration is the encounter with loss. The familiar environment is replaced by new cultures, tastes, scents, and landscapes. Stress from the need to adapt shapes this experience. Local customs and cultural differences often provoke irritation more than curiosity. A sense of paranoia can emerge—the feeling that locals deliberately hinder communication or complicate life. One is a foreigner, distinctly othered. This stage is often accompanied by idealized memories of home, evoking a longing to return and reclaim the self. The decisive moment lies in the acceptance or rejection of loss; embracing it creates space for new experiences.
Stop 3
Identity and Transformation
Migration entails not only the loss of material belongings but also of identity. Individuals often anchor themselves in family, birthplace, and life experience. Relocation disrupts these foundations, sometimes provoking feelings of inadequacy due to the loss of social roles. Adaptation requires a serious internal reassessment and can fundamentally transform personality. The search for a new self may be prolonged, particularly for those who maintain social networks exclusively within their own community, use information only in their native tongue, or avoid local interactions to reduce stress. Such isolation, however, limits growth opportunities and reshapes perspectives. Identity loss, ultimately, is a transformation from the familiar to something new, equally unique.
Stop 4
Adaptation
Nothing lasts forever. Over time, individuals adjust to a new life; the pain of nostalgia recedes. Local streets form recognizable routes, new acquaintances emerge, favorite foods are rediscovered, and speaking a foreign language no longer induces shame or panic. The surrounding world seems less opaque and threatening, while the home country feels increasingly distant. Strength grows not only to sustain oneself but also to support those beginning their journey.
Stop 5
Reflection and Integration
Without breaks, changes may not be noticed. Eventually, a sense of fullness and stability emerges. A critical perspective reveals not only the difficulties of relocation but also its potential rewards. The new country is felt as a mix of society, culture, history, and politics, not just a set of ideas. The difference between “self” and “other” stays, but it feels smaller, as the identity gains new dimensions.
In 2020, there were 281 million international migrants. Women accounted for 48% of the total, about 15% were children, 6.6 million were international students, and 169 million were labor migrants. Most—73%—belongs to the working-age group. Europe alone had 86.7 million migrants, and by mid-2022, the Czech Republic had registered over 1,053,568 foreign nationals. Migration remains a sensitive issue, no matter which “side of the barricade” one stands on.
For migrants, the main question is not knowing what the future will bring. Moving for study or work can be temporary and may lead to better opportunities. However, if someone has to move for safety or cannot stay in one place, it becomes very challenging. Even when migration is voluntary, it triggers and brings changes on biological, psychological, and social levels.