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In the biographical account Romulus, my father written by Raimond Gaita, the characters discuss their adoption to an alien culture. Using the characters in the novel the author explores the difficulties people have adjusting to a foreign culture. The prophesy says Romulus is "destined for a journey across a large water, that he would lose his wife and suffer greatly". This seems true not only for Romulus but also all the characters who were migrants, as they suffer greatly because of the isolation in an alien culture.

Romulus Gaita, migrated from Germany with his wife and son Raimond to Australia. Even after forty years Romulus could not become reconciled for it. "He longed for the generous and soft European foliage...”. As a 'new Australian' he was finding it difficult to settle in the new country and he longed for his own. Upon the immediate arrival at Port Melbourne, Romulus was separated from his family. This was painful not only for Romulus but also for the family who was depending on him. This shows the difficulties adjusting to an alien culture.
Foreigners’ trying to communicate to ‘English speaking’ Australians was one of the many hardships for migrants. Raimond Gaita explains the communicational problem of migrants, with reference to Mitru "who knew virtually no English." The two "managed without language until they were able to converse in halting English." Romulus was also feeling hard to incorporate the Australian standard of work. As Raimond says "he noted how incompetent some Australian tradesmen were".
Hard though it was to adapt to Australian standards of living, it was harder to adapt to the volatile Australian climate. "He had been cutting hay with a scythe when he saw a snake go under a stook." As a foreigner, and without thinking of the dry Australian terrain, Romulus had set fire. All these incidents prove that it is difficult to acclimatize to an unfamiliar culture.
Just like Romulus Christine has...