Those that know me well, know that I am very fond of cows, following my experience living on a farm in Normandy, France. While out for a walk today, I happened across a couple of cows who made me think of some helpful tips for relocating. At the very least, this little article will hopefully make you laugh!

Cows are naturally curious. Curiousity is at the core of meeting new friends, discovering new activities, and learning about new cultures. Make sure to follow your own sense of curiousity.

Flies are always pestering cows, but they learn to put up with them. Wherever it is that you move, something will definitely bug you. It might be the weather, the food, the bureaucracy, for example. If you can find a way to accept and deal with the things that bug you, you’ll have a much easier time with your transition.

The friendlier the cow, the more I want to feed it some hay. Some cows have no hesitation walking right up to me. Other cows seem timid or fearful. Eventually, if a shy cow doesn’t feel like budging, I’m not going to feel like coercing it. When you walk into social situations, the more adept you become at walking up to new people and starting a conversation, the more likely they will give you their card so that you can begin turning an aquaintance into a friend.

Even though breeds of cow may vary, they’re all still cows. Whether a cow is big, small, black and white, or brown, I still love them for being cows. When you relocate, you’ll meet very different people – they’ll look different, behave differently, and maybe even speak another language. However, if you can look beyond the surface, you’ll find you’re still surrounded by wonderful people whom you can become great friends with, despite how different they are from your friends back home.

Cows are not afraid to stare at you. It can be very jarring when someone stares at you because you feel so noticed. But wherever you are in the world, eye-contact is the first step towards establishing contact and conversation.

Cows are less shy when they know you. The first day I visited these cows, they stayed at a bit of a distance, though were clearly

curious about me. When I went back a second time, they actually had no hesitation coming over to me and actually dared to sniff my hands. Similarly, if you are naturally shy,putting yourself into situations (classes, volunteering, etc) where you see the same people over and over again will make it easier for you to walk over and talk to them.