It’s been around a year and half since I came from my pretty sweet Slovakia to sunny, mysterious Malta. Malta is for me a magical country with an infinite source of history, soul-feeding views, majestic sea with hidden caves, hot sun and patriotic fireworks.

From time to time it just happens.

The creepy-crawly bug with the beautiful name ‘Home Sweet Home’, comes into my head. I do not know which way he is using to get inside, he must be very inventive! He knows for sure how to crawl to get into my head.

Once he is there, he starts opening my ‘memory chest of drawers’. For example, he opens the drawer with a fabulous fresh smell of evergreen Slovak forest. The smell is very strong and tickles my nose. Afterwards a strange feeling of sorrow drops into my heart.

Bump, bump, bump… my T-shirt is going up and down. The bug is happily creating his path back from my heart into my eyes. I can even feel tears.

Sometimes they come in twos. They are in a hurry to open other drawers. In one of them there is my lovely friend who always invites me to her tiny, summer cottage with a garden full of beautiful colourful flowers and smooth grass. What a special, pleasant experience one gets walking through such freshly mowed grass. I am also having a tasty treat prepared especially for me.

The second bug is opening another drawer and I am immediately in the cosy, quiet flat I left behind. The bugs continue with their mission, now through my throat and into my stomach, creating a strange shivering there.

What does it mean? A person can’t be in two places at the same time.

One day I decided to stop the creepy-crawly ‘buginess’ inside me. I invented an excellent virtual mind cocktail, which I use against them.

I am offering you my recipe of seven ingredients of distinct taste.

Sometimes you might need more time to understand that the new environment is different and there is nothing wrong with it. It is just different

Reconcile the feelings: there is nothing wrong with them. Do not fight them. Sometimes you might need more time to understand that the new environment is different and there is nothing wrong with it. It is just different.

Acknowledge, do not judge: I am in a country where there are no coniferous trees. But there are other trees here. Big large trees of different shapes (like in a movie), some of them I call ‘Trees for reading’. These trees have very strong low branches. You just can lie down on one of them and read a book.

Accept, do not compare: accepting the situation and the clear facts is a good beginning. To be at a new place is not about a loss behind me, it is about my new world to be explored by me. Mark Twain said everything with his quote: “Comparison is the death of joy.”

Learn and be curious: this is for me quite easy as I love learning. I am trying to learn more about myself, as I have been out of my comfort zone. Sometimes I am surprised.

Curiosity could be my second name. I like learning about people, their lives, about the country where I am, about its culture, habits, language. I love observing and imagining what’s going on behind some people and situations.

Being connected and getting connected: wherever we are, we are missing our close family and friends. Thanks to IT we can get connected with them, so I just do that. I do not break the bonds that I have had so far. On the other hand I am trying to find new people, friends, who I could have something common to share with.

Finding your spots: find a favourite spot where you can enjoy coffee, shopping, entertainment, etc. I found some great places. One of them is for sure a nice large garden, where I am walking my dog and I can be watching the sea and its surprises all day long.

Promoting your country: very often we forget about it. Everybody who is abroad knows the question: “Where are you from?” I used to reply “from Slovakia”.

The feedback is different. Sometimes it is “hm, aha”, or a question: “Where is it?”, or nothing. Sometimes I could find people who know my country and once I was very proud when one lady happily said to me: “My daughter studies in Slovakia.” That’s it.

I decided to change it and to be a promoter of my home country. So now I am trying to answer: “I am from Slovakia. It is a beautiful country full of castles, marvellous villages, and natural beauty offering various adventures”, or something like that.

Many people show interest and some of them want to know more or get some recommendations how to get there, what to see, etc. It is a nice feeling to promote my Slovakia and I am still working on it.

If you have read the recipe till the end, consider trying it.

Enjoy your stay wherever you are.

Agnes Klocokova is an adult educator.