Moving OCONUS is a whirlwind of new smells, sounds, and faces that can change how you see yourself and the world around you. For many of us, there’s a natural pull to dive into our host country’s culture in a way that goes beyond just sightseeing or trying new foods. It’s about stepping into the fabric of daily life and creating memories that feel unique to our time overseas. When we lived in Turkey, I marveled at how traditions blended ancient and new, each detail telling its own story. These memories made our time abroad unforgettable. Here’s how to find your own connection, taking in the local traditions and making them truly yours.
Make language your secret superpower abroad
Even learning a handful of phrases can shift your entire experience in your host country. During a friend’s time in Japan, she learned how she learned to navigate the local market using the phrase Sumimasen (excuse me) and a warm smile. It became her passport to more genuine conversations and helped her feel like a part of the community.
You don’t have to aim for fluency, but picking up key phrases makes life easier and gives you a little boost in confidence every day. Start by practicing words that connect you with daily routines, like ordering your favorite coffee, saying thank you to local vendors, or greeting your neighbors. When you start using the language around you, it becomes less about avoiding tourist traps and more about easily blending into your surroundings.
Go beyond the plate: savoring local cuisine with a cultural twist
When we were in Germany, we learned that food goes far beyond flavor. It’s a connection to culture. Our neighbor invited us for a traditional Weihnachtsplätzchen (Christmas cookie) baking day, which, I quickly learned, was a deep-rooted tradition in her family. She showed us everything from rolling the dough to sprinkling sugar just right, each step linked to her family’s own memories.
Look for ways to bring these culinary experiences into your own home. Many markets will have seasonal ingredients or traditional staples that you can work into your own recipes. And if you have a neighbor or friend willing to teach you, even better! Try making your favorite local dish, then add your own twist. The smells, the flavors—suddenly, you’re creating something that feels like home in a place that might have once felt foreign.
Celebrate like a local: finding a festival that feels like home
Festivals are huge cultural markers, and choosing just one to celebrate as your own can make it that much more special. On a four-day in Italy, I remember stumbling into the grape harvest festival in a small Tuscan town. We hadn’t planned to go, but we ended up spending the day learning the art of grape stomping and sipping local wine while the whole town celebrated together.
If your host country has a unique festival, dive into it and make it a tradition while you’re there. Ask locals about the history, join in on a smaller town event, or find out how you can volunteer or support. Bringing a festival experience back home, even if it’s just a tradition you’ll remember and share, can make your time overseas feel like it was uniquely yours.
Add a local spin to family traditions
When you live OCONUS, holidays feel different, and sometimes that’s a bit of a gift. Instead of trying to recreate every holiday exactly as it was back home, add something local. During a friend’s time in South Korea, she started adding elements of Chuseok (Korean Thanksgiving) to her Thanksgiving celebrations. They’d make songpyeon, traditional rice cakes filled with honey and sesame seeds, alongside turkey and stuffing. It was something small, but she said it made their holiday feel like a blend of where they were and where they came from.
Adding these small touches of local culture to your personal traditions lets you carry part of that country with you and helps everyone in the family feel more connected to where you are. These are the details that will stick with you long after you’re back stateside.
Capture the everyday magic: moments that tell your OCONUS story
I can still remember the tiny café in Istanbul where I spent mornings over a tiny cup of thick Turkish coffee, watching the plaza fill with early risers and listening to the buzz of daily life around me. There was something grounding about those moments of quiet observation. Keeping a journal or a photo collection of simple things, like the corner store, the park where you walk, or a local street market, helps you capture the feel of daily life in a personal and timeless way.
These snapshots of normalcy become souvenirs of the soul, not just pictures or notes. They capture how you truly felt living OCONUS and give you something to look back on. Sometimes, sharing these memories with friends back home helps them see the beauty of this experience, too, in a way that goes deeper than travel photos.
Let your host country surprise you in unforgettable ways
Living OCONUS is a chance to let go of expectations and let the unexpected surprise you. Each little piece of the culture you absorb, each friendship you build, and every new tradition you try makes the experience that much richer. Embrace the traditions around you, add your own story to them, and you’ll find that those memories stay with you wherever life takes you next.