Moving to a new country can be very exciting with a new life is waiting to be discovered. Sometimes the differences between the old culture and the new one are minor, whereby the largest adjustment could be learning to drive on the correct side of the road. For others, moving to a new country can be worlds different from what is left behind, especially if there is a language barrier.
Those who have poor English skills will find adjustment much harder. One of the first things a migrant can do to make the transition easier is to begin learning the English language the moment immigration becomes a possibility. Under the provisions of some visas there is a requirement for facility with the English language. Families can learn together, and once a fair command of the language is obtained, they can choose to speak it in the home while waiting for immigration. It's important for children to learn the English language right along with the parents. They will likely pick it up more quickly, especially once they have settled in the UK and have begun school.
An important aspect of one's life that may be left behind when moving to a new country is the food that is indigenous to that country. At the same time, one must get used to the new foods that are customary in the UK. This can be quite an adjustment if the ethnic foods are very different. New residents who miss their native cuisine can look for specialty stores and ethnic restaurants to find foods that are familiar. A taste of home can be a welcome thing when all else is so new. It's a good idea also to practice eating the foods of the UK as early as possible, if they are available in the country of origin. They won't be so strange to the pallet when immigration actually happens.
Ethnic communities spring up amongst migrants out of familiarity and a need to feel the bond from the old culture. In these communities there is a commonality of language and custom that brings a touch of security for the newcomer. These communities help an migrant in the transition from the old to the new, but if the immigrant never leaves the community he will fail to integrate into the larger UK community successfully. Migrants have a lot to offer, and it's important to reach out and become a member of the UK in all ways possible.
