“When I look back, one thing I truly wish I had known when I first arrived is how essential it is to approach integration as both a cultural and professional journey, and how closely the two are tied together,” shares Abir Gallala.
Already fluent in French and English, she soon realised that wasn’t quite enough. “I underestimated the importance of learning Luxembourgish from the very beginning. It’s not just about speaking the language--it’s about showing genuine interest in local culture and building meaningful relationships. Even a basic grasp of Luxembourgish goes a long way in earning trust and feeling part of the community, both socially and professionally.”
Gallala also wishes she had explored the country’s professional landscape sooner. “From networking events to startup programmes, public support for entrepreneurs and cross-border initiatives, there’s real potential here. If I had started tapping into those opportunities from day one, I think I would have integrated more smoothly and made even better use of what Luxembourg has to offer.”
Climate, cutting your grass and croissants
That sense of adaptation doesn’t stop at language. For newcomers from sunnier parts of the world, it may be tough to get used to the Luxembourg weather. Shilton Rica knows the feeling well.
“I was born five minutes from the coast, in a place where it’s sunny 80% of the year. Even cloudy days still had light. At first, I really missed the sun,” he says. “But a few months ago, I started to feel more optimistic. I told myself: if there’s no sun today, then I don’t have to think about the coast. You learn to enjoy what’s here--and there’s a lot to enjoy.”
Beyond language and climate, small local customs can catch newcomers off guard. For Virginia Strong, Sunday silence was one of them.
“Mowing your lawn on a Sunday? I didn’t know that was forbidden--until my neighbours yelled at me! Now I’ve found a better way to spend Sunday mornings: Merl Cactus makes the best croissants in the city--and they’re open on Sundays. So when you forget to cut your grass, just eat a delicious croissant and don’t worry about it.”
This article was written for the August/September 2025 issue of Paperjam magazine (Expat Guide), published on 10 July. The content is produced exclusively for the magazine. It is published on the site to contribute to the full Paperjam archive. Click this link to subscribe to the magazine.
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