Disclaimer! I had no glasses during the writing of this post and I have a prescription of 5 in each eye so forget any typos or errors.

Chameleons have superpowers. Think about it. They can change their colour at will to suit the environment. Whether it’s for self preservation, attracting a mate or warding off the competition they are masters of blending in. Taking a leaf out of their book I developed a a very unique style of adapting to new countries over the years.

But first, let’s just remind ourselves how baffling chameleons are:

If you spend a lot of time living in different countries, whether for work, school or solely to see new places, you’re in the prime position to be an international chameleon.

I was privileged to be on the move from a young age. Born in Leeds, U.K. my parents moved to Mexico City in my mid teens and then on to Vienna, Austria after that. One, a vibrant, warm Latin nation and the other a staunch, Germanic opposite. I love my other cultures very much equally.

A recurring thing I notice by living abroad however, is that expats often find groups of other expats and don’t really make much of an effort to mingle with locals after that, they talk about the locals as if they are another species:

“Ooo, you’ll never guess what this Austrian did the other day!”

This is quite terrible. As a guest in a foreign country you have an obligation to be civil and polite with your hosts and learn about their homeland as much as possible. This won’t only enhance your stay and broaden your horizons but also improve how you are perceived by the natives.

Expats have this terrible habit of trying to build a miniature version of their life back home within the new country they live in.

Okay that’s harsh. We all have our home comforts and it’s important not to forget your culture but really, don’t be sad about living away from home. Use it as an opportunity to learn so many things you never knew before, plus languages, plus awesome new friends with those languages! Win, win, win!

As I move and work in different countries I find it very helpful to blend in. No I don’t mean you have to be “normal” (God forbid!), I just mean I think it is so important to immerse oneself into the adopting country’s lifestyle and really live like one of it’s own.

There is an old adage which seems to have fallen out of use , I aim to revitalise it today:

“When in Rome, do as the Romans do.”

Now this was first attested in Medieval writings as the Latin, “si fueris Romae, Romano vivito more; si fueris alibi, vivito sicut ibi” which (if my poor Latin skills don’t fail me) roughly translates to ‘If you should find yourself in Rome, live like them. If you should find yourself elsewhere then act like the people there.’

In my opinion a truer phrase has never been coined.

The sheer fact that this motto has lasted so long should tell you that they are good words to live by when travelling and words that I have held close for many years.

This is how I became an international chameleon and today I will be outlining some of the things I did to get there:

Learn the language!

When I moved to Mexico City, I had no choice but to fit in. I went to a British high school in the hills just above the thick smog of the never-ending metropolis below. For a British school the student body mostly consisted of vivacious, upper class Mexicans who could speak impeccable English. From day one however they would not allow me to speak English. It simply wasn’t an option, they implored me that I learn Spanish and I thank every one of them for it today, it is truly a gift. How can one attempt to grasp a true, unskewed perception of a nation and it’s inhabitants if one can not understand a word of what’s around them?

protip; They can’t.

Get off the beaten track.

As I briefly touched upon before, expats tend to stick to the same bars and cafes. In any international city you will find “British Pubs” and “Australian Bars”, (with real Fosters! We know you Aussies luu-rve that stuff). These places will inevitably be filled with both travellers and local expats having a good time.

Now there s absolutely nothing wrong with visiting these places as a traveller, they’re fun and have awesome people! But why are you going to an American bar in Rome? Or an Australian bar in Berlin? You forked out thousands to be here, don’t you want the authentic taste of that sweet, sweet sausage?

Living in Vienna, Austria. We have a hu-uuge international population.

Capital city + U.N. + ‘highest quality of life in the world‘ means that approximately 50 percent of Vienna residents don’t actually speak German as their first tongue.

This has led to a massive global culture in the town and an Austrian may be best friends with people from over 10 different nations.

I personally have many friends from many different lands but interestingly many of my closest friends are Austrian. After spending years barflying in the likely “Irish Pubs” I slowly drifted away and into the many Lokals and “Cafes” which adorn the baroque streets of majestic Austrian capital. This change allowed me to become much more in-tune with my surroundings. I began rubbing shoulders with real locals, people who spoke with a thick accent allowing me to simulate it in the future. They were people who complained and used curse words or idioms I simply would never have learned on Duolingo. They discussed the country’s politics and law, things I ashamedly had no clue about.

Endless nights spent drinking “Krugels” of sweet Viennese lager with teal Austrians have left me a better citizen. I have friends to help me navigate this Germanic tribe, the knowledge to debate a drunk old man in a Lokal and a well formed opinion on the place I currently choose to hang my hat. When trying to blend in it is so important to know what you’re talking about, otherwise you run the risk of being seen as a tourist, oh no!

It’s funny, I now consider myself Viennese.

If you don’t believe me then just look at this picture of me eating a Kaesekrainer:

Buy local, commonly used products and food.



This is my personal trick to quickly integrate into any society. Yes yes, we all miss Marmite, Crisps and chocolate from home but did it ever cross your mind that there may be even more delicious treats in store for you at your local shop? I used to never eat breakfast until México invited me for some Chilaquiles:

I also never used to wear slippers until Austrian culture dictated I remove my shoes at the front door. 2 years of cold feet and I promise you I’m wearing them as I write!

This is all part and parcel of immersing oneself into the new culture. and leaving your home comforts behind. Simply looking around my room I see so many Austrian things; a salt lamp from Salzburg, postcards all over my wall (they have a think for postcards), and a mango Latella molke drink (whey curd). If I go to my kitchen you will find the traditional Austrian Semmel (bread roll), you will also find Tortillas de Maiz and Valentina hot sauce for my tacos. These are just a few of the things I have learned to love by embracing the third and fourth cultures I was lucky to be part of.

Do local stuff!

In every society on our wonderful The Blue Planet, there are rules, laws and customs which you as a foreigner may or may not be aware of. It’s prudent to take note of these nuances as they may starkly differ from your own.

For example in México:

It is completely acceptable to simply turn up at a friend, associate or family member’s home. And it is weird if you don’t host and kowtow them.

Siestas certainly are a thing and people to take them! It is normal for many professionals in México to take a two hour break during the hottest hours of the day, to rest and rejuvenate. Consequently, the average work day is longer and employees often come home around 8pm.

‘Cenas and viajes’. In México, there is a lot of pressure to be a social person. The Latin flame is strong and their sense of humour is world famous. People love to have fun and meet new people, because of that there will be countless invitations to huge garden dinners with A LOT of people. You will also often find yourself being invited to seaside resorts and beautiful, colonial towns for the weekend.

It is seen as rude and antisocial to reject these invitations all the time so stop being boring and go have some fun.

of people. You will also often find yourself being invited to seaside resorts and beautiful, colonial towns for the weekend. It is seen as rude and antisocial to reject these invitations all the time so stop being boring and go have some fun. Driving like a lunatic: In México City, you have the second most cars on the road in the world. The bustling metropolis is so big that flying above it, you still can’t see the city limits and that means one thing…everyone has a car.

The city really is chaotic in terms of traffic and there is a collective complacency toward the rules of the road. Take this on the chin and go with the flow. Don’t try to drive like you do back home…unless your home is Shanghai! ALWAYS buckle up! I can’t stress this enough, many drivers are erratic and have paid for a ‘fast track’ license ie They never took a test. This is illegal.

Conversely, in Austria:

They wait for the light to turn green both in cars and as a pedestrian. It is a very real faux pas to cross the road when the man is red and people will call you out for it. Austrians have a stiff upper lip and like to be safe. The logic behind this is that not only is it illegal to jay walk but if there are children around, they will pick up the habit and consequently risk their lives by doing the same.

“Where are you going on holiday?” This is a question which every Viennese person will ask you between March and September. It’s almost as if you only have one designated holiday per year and you have to use it in the summer. If you say you are not going on holiday and leaving the city, don’t be surprised if you receive funny looks. This annual migration out of Austria is most apparent in the summer. The streets are quiet, there is no traffic and you will mostly hear foreigners on the street.

Similarly in the Winter most Austrians will take 1 or 2 ski holidays although there is not so much pressure to do so. If you can’t ski, learn, or at least learn to enjoy the apres ski on one of the breathtaking mountains situated within the alps.

Go to cafes, bars and be modest Austrians are cold, direct people who appreciate modesty and somewhat oxymoronically love to have a good time. Being Jack the Lad does not fly here and they will see right through you. Yeah…about that Undercut and fade…not worth anything here! Don’t flash your cash and be real.

Recycle! Last but not least, Austria really cares about the environment, they waste nothing and recycle everything, this bodes well in their favour [economically] and they collect bottle like there is no more left. This is backed up by the government who sanctions businesses who don’t recycle and offer ‘Pfand’ to citizens who bring their bottles back. Your beer literally pays for your beer! I now scold foreign friends who come to visit and don’t sort their rubbish appropriately.

I could go on for days about the intricacies of my other cultures but those are a few that stood out. This post is not about social nuances in Mexico and Austria, though. It is about learning to blend in and using that to take out as much as you can from your new country. I would be lying if I didn’t say my worldview has been moulded by the countries I have lived in, in fact I would go so far as to say I am who I am because of them and the gifts they have given me. I don’t know any Brit who reads as much Goethe as I do nor any gringo who eats as much Mole.

I have to thank the two beautiful nations who helped me reach where I am today and made me into a well rounded person, I couldn’t have done it without you. This includes all my friends, bosses, teachers and enemies who I encountered along the way. They made me the international chameleon I am today.

D x

p.s I would like to share two gorgeous photos of the places I discuss in this post beginning with Mexico City – old smokey…

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