Traveling and playing for the sport that you love is amazing. It will bring in new experiences, new environments, you get to meet new people and cultures. While all of this is new, exciting, and fun, it can still be difficult. Change is not always easy but most of the time it is good and necessary for growth and maturity. 

While traveling abroad, whether it is for a sport or vacation, it is normal to go through an adjustment period and many people will take it differently. In my case, it wasn't too hard but it was obviously a challenge. I have been traveling internationally since I was around 4 or 5 years old but that doesn't mean I'm an expert at adapting to new environments and cultures. I have been to 5+ countries but change is a big test that one has to be able to pass. 

When I moved to the US from Panama City, Panama after graduating high school to start my college career and play for a DIII school, it was very exciting at first. The first week went well and this was because my mom dropped me off and helped me move in. However, when she left, the realization that I was on my own settled in. 

Related: What to Expect As An International College Athlete

The culture, the language, the ways things work here are far different from how they worked back home. I remember my first day of preseason in which I showed up to practice and everything was different. Going from speaking Spanish in volleyball to English was the first  big change for me. I had to learn new words, new slang, new names for calling plays and more. This took me about a month to get used to and it was something that resonated  in my head every day. I would feel awkward when trying to say the same things my teammates were saying so I was shy and not giving my 100%. 

In addition to a language change in the game of volleyball, the way people direct themselves to each other is also different. Everything I was used to doing had to be adjusted according to the culture I was now living in. All of this took time and energy as well as concentration and effort which would distract me from playing my game.

I became very observant to my surroundings and very attentive to detail. I also became less afraid of asking questions such as, “What does it mean when you say ‘shoot'?” or “What does set-set-back mean?” and more. 

I was also not afraid of making mistakes because mistakes can be  the best lessons and one learns from experience the best. However, I was also making sure my team  understood my culture and background so that there was a mutual understanding with no assumptions!

Being flexible and adaptable to different environments and cultures is important. This will only help you grow and become a better athlete and person that can adapt to any given scenario. Don't be afraid to get exposed to different surroundings. 

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* Originally published on April 8, 2022, by Lilia Farach