When you move countries as a family, you’re not just changing your address—you’re shifting your entire rhythm of life. We’ve done it twice: first from Mexico to Indonesia, and then from Indonesia to Spain. And while the paperwork and packing might seem like the hardest parts, the truth is—culture adaptation is where the real magic (and challenge) begins.

Here’s how we navigated those changes and found ways not just to survive, but to truly thrive as a multicultural family.

1. Food Is Our Bridge to Belonging

Food is more than just comfort—it’s connection. At home, we still enjoy a mix of Indonesian and Mexican flavors. It’s how we stay rooted. But with our move to Spain, we’ve made space on our table for new culinary adventures. Tapas, churros with chocolate on Saturday mornings, discovering new “favorites” together—these little discoveries keep us connected to each other and to our new home.

2. Movies Are More Than Entertainment—They’re Cultural Gateways

When weekends are quiet, we turn our living room into a little cinema. We’ve used movie nights to explore and honor our roots—like watching Coco to teach our daughter about Día de los Muertos. Movies become our subtle way to educate, empathize, and laugh together while deepening our understanding of different traditions.

3. Books: The Gentle Power of Storytelling

We’ve had a night reading ritual since I was pregnant. It’s our quiet bonding time, and a gentle way to introduce values and culture. From Indonesian folktales to Mexican picture books, reading keeps us close to our roots. Now that we’re in Spain, we’ve discovered a treasure trove of Catalan children’s books—and a magical tradition here: Día de Sant Jordi, where people exchange books and roses. It melted my heart. I never imagined a culture that celebrates love through books.

4. Saying Yes to Local Events

One of our favorite discoveries in Spain is how family-friendly the local culture is. Nearly every neighborhood has a small theater or community center offering performances for kids. Around Christmas? It feels like a festival at every corner! We’ve made “event hunting” a family ritual—seeing shows, joining festivities, and watching our daughter’s world grow one local experience at a time.

5. Community: Creating Your Circle

Community looks different depending on where you are. In Mexico, we leaned into the Indonesian community (and the Embassy played a big part in helping us stay connected). It helped me feel seen—especially when speaking Indonesian to my daughter felt “out of place.” In Spain, we’re still exploring. We haven’t committed to any community group yet, but we keep our hearts open. Sometimes, the right people find you when you’re ready.

6. Language: Let It Evolve Naturally

We’re a multilingual family—Indonesian, Spanish, and English fly around in our house daily. But Catalan? That’s a new chapter. Our daughter actually became our guide. She picks it up at school, and now we’re learning through her. It’s been humbling, and beautiful. We’re not fluent (yet), but we’re trying—and that effort alone is a way of showing respect to the place we now call home.

7. Own Your Culture—and Stay Curious About Others

We’ve always known we wanted our daughter to grow up immersed in both our heritages. In Mexico, we celebrated Chinese New Year (my side), and in Indonesia, we kept honoring Día de los Muertos. In Spain, we had our first Christmas with El Tió de Nadal—a quirky, wood-log tradition that had us giggling the whole way through. Every tradition we adopt or continue is a thread in the tapestry of our family’s identity.

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Cultural adaptation isn’t just about blending in—it’s about growing together, being curious, and staying grounded in who you are. For us, it’s about welcoming new traditions without letting go of our own. It’s about making space for difference, while building a family rhythm that feels safe, joyful, and uniquely ours.

Whether you’re preparing for your first international move or in the middle of adjusting to a new place, I hope these tips give you hope and ideas. If anything, remember this: adaptation doesn’t mean losing who you are—it means expanding who you can become, together. 💛