Abroad For Five Days And Anxious If I Can Make It

[Anrish]

Hello everyone,

I'm really nervous and restless right now and I don't know how to deal with it. I'm participating in a project of seven polices in Europe. I only was announced because I'm a good English-speaker. I'm representing Germany in this project together with a colleague who doesn't speak English - so I have to listen, discuss and translate for him.

We were already in Latvia and Estonia. In Latvia, I was so worn out, so tired and so stressed that I got a really bad migraine and couldn't join the last day. After Estonia, I also got sick with migraine really bad. It's really stressful for me. It's interesting, but as soon as it comes to social interactions and small talk, I'm totally lost. They already visited us in March. But during this time, I could go home, go for a run and so so...so I could calm down again.

I will fly to Finland next Monday. This time, the programme is really crammed. We start at 08:30 in the morning and don't stop until 08:00 in the evening or even later. Of course, there are short breaks, but there's never enough time to retreat to my room. We even will travel to Stockholm by ferry, take a short visit and travel back. I love the sea and I love traveling by ferry, but with all these people, I feel already locked up. There's no opportunity to go out and be by myself.

So, I'm really worrying if I can make it through this week. I will have a lot to think about, to talk as an expert...but I don't have the opportunity for sport on a ferry. I'm an endurance sport type and when I stop doing sports for more than three days, I'm almost going crazy. And I really need my own flat, it's like my refuge - and not being able to go there get me into panic.

Is there anyone here who knows this problems when you have to go abroad because of your job? Or do you have some kind of advice for me?

All people I know envy me...but they don't get the "dark side" of it and they don't understand my fears.

 

[Deleted member 19804]

I don't have experience with working abroad, but perhaps you can take some "parts" of your home with you? Like some pictures of the people you love, a nice book, or even a pillowcase. It can help you settle in more easily and you can use those things to create a safe place for yourself to flee to when you get anxious or homesick.

 

[Deleted member 12723]

I congratulate you for your success as an expert. I cannot imagine the journey you took to get to where you are today. One of my sources is to get away and go into a restroom to center myself. I look for place for refuge. I hope this helps.

 

[Anrish]

Thank you for your replies.

@Snowwhite: I also have some stuff from home with me. The most important thing is my toy animanl - a big white tiger called Yves. But I can't take him to the meetings...I'll look for something smaller in my flat.

@gizmo: Thank you for the congratulations. It was a pure coincidence that I got into this position. I'm the only in this project who is still doing daily police work. The other participants are chiefs and heads of all kinds of departments....:confused:

Thank you for the advice with the restroom. I will try this. I hope at least that I will have internet on the ferry - so I can report the current status here.

 

[In Exile]

I don't know if you still need any help or if the trip is finished.

I'm an American who has lived overseas for over 26 years. I'm in Taiwan now, but I lived in Japan for the most part. I've traveled to Europe on business several times and they can be really stressful, especially when you have to translate all day.

You need some down time. Make you take breaks for at least 5 minutes every hour.

Small talk at events like this is a little easier in that you can focus on what is happening there. As people what they like, if it's the first time for them and other questions like that.

 

[Anrish]

@In Exile: Thank you for your nice response. I'm still on my trip. Tomorrow, I'll return home.

I take some time for myself as soon as we make some breaks. When we're having dinner and they all you the all-you-can-drink-opportunity, I just eat something and then I leave and go outside on the ferry. After spending a whole day with more than 20 people, I'm just glad to be alone outside of the ferry.

It's already our fourth meeting. And we're from seven different countries, so the talking is kind of hard sometimes. And since I'm not into sports and drinking, it's getting quite difficult sometimes. ...but thanks a lot for your advices. It will be over tomorrow evening.

 

[In Exile]

That's good. I'm glad you are surviving. I did that sort of thing for more than 20 years.

Good luck on your last day, then go home and relax!