As an expatriate or someone who has been relocated for work, you’re in for some potential adjustments.

When I went from Corporate America to a tiny office in Paris, France, I spent my first month miserable. In my fun job in New York City, I enjoyed my work (sales assistant), loved my boss, and socialized frequently with my colleagues who were around the same age as me. There were about 50 people working in the same office.

In Paris, I had 4 colleagues. They were all older than me. No one socialized after work. My job was less enjoyable, both because I didn’t love it, and because I felt alone and that no one cared about me.

However, I was able to turn this experience around, make friends with my colleagues (who let me in on the stash of beer in our office refrigerator which I was allowed to drink at work!) and finally love my job.

Here are some tips for you to ensure a smooth transition to a new work environment:

1 – Prepare for a different social environment. Get ready for the possibility that you’ll be working with people older or younger than yourself, and, initially, a different social structure. In some countries, people become friends with colleagues and see them outside of work. In other countries, work and social lives are kept intentionally separate and you may not be able to rely on your place of work to make friends.

2 – Be open to different work styles expectations. Even if you move from one sales job to another, the clients you have will no doubt be very different. Some cultures are very relationship-based in how they do business, others are much more bottom-line, and have less emphasis on building relationships. You need to figure out what the standards and expectations are, and prepare to tweak your style to be successful.

3 – Accept a physical change to your workspace. If you had a private office, maybe you’ll move to a cubicle environment, or vice versa. Even if you go from one cube to another, European cube styles tend to be much more open, with such a low divider that you are staring at the person opposite you all day. In America, we tend to have cubicles with 3 high walls, each one about 6 feet high, that offer a sense of privacy. Any change in office setup will take some getting used to, as well as adjusting to people who may talk loudly, and figuring out how to ask them nicely to keep the noise down so you can get your work done.

4 – Learn and Adjust to different Corporate regulations. A major shift may occur in tolerated office behavior. In the US, we are a much more lawsuit-based country, so there are often stringent rules on vocabulary and how we address one another at work. In some other countries, behavior may be tolerated that, back in the US, could be considered harassment. As a woman, this often comes into play more frequently. Often times, outside of America, banter, and flirtation are common, and frequently does not imply that there is any interest, just that this is common office behavior. In America, an evening out with coworkers may typically steer clear of conversations about politics and sex, whereas, in Europe, these are very acceptable subjects and such topics do not imply harassment, rather openness. This can take a lot of getting used to. Another big difference is the tolerance for drinking – in Europe, it’s perfectly acceptable to have a glass of wine or beer at lunch. In America, this can be grounds for dismissal.

5 – Observe without Judgment This is probably the most pivotal step you need to take. Spend at least the first month observing everyone around you. Definitely engage, but make sure you watch how your colleagues interact with one another at work, and, if you have the opportunity, outside of work. First off, you’ll understand what is “common” or “normal” and what is not. Also see how clients are treated. Do you find an environment full of pushy sales people, or, rather, people trying to build a relationship that has a longer sales cycle than you’re accustomed to?

For more tips about preparing for a move to a new place, download my free eCourse, 8 Steps to Feel at Home Anywhere in the World with tips and tools to help you successfully transition to a new culture.