The Unspoken Rules of a New Country

No one hands you a rulebook when you move to a new country.

You learn by watching, by making mistakes, by realizing too late that something you did was wrong—even if no one says it out loud.

Like how you’re supposed to make eye contact when shaking hands—but not too much, or it’s weird.
Like how “How are you?” isn’t really a question, just a greeting.
Like how silence in conversation can be uncomfortable, and small talk is a skill you’re expected to master.

Some rules are easier to pick up—how to tip at restaurants, how to stand in line, how not to talk too loudly on public transport.

Others are trickier.

Like understanding when "Let's get coffee sometime" actually means never.
Or how "You should come over" doesn’t always mean there’s an invitation coming.
Or when someone says "No worries"—but you can tell there are worries.

The hardest part?

By the time you’ve finally learned all the unspoken rules, you’ve changed too.

And when you go back to where you came from—suddenly, there are unspoken rules there too.