{"id":48829,"date":"2024-02-14T23:33:47","date_gmt":"2024-02-15T04:33:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.escapeartist.com\/?p=48829"},"modified":"2024-02-19T23:16:08","modified_gmt":"2024-02-20T04:16:08","slug":"finding-community-as-an-expat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.escapeartist.com\/blog\/finding-community-as-an-expat\/","title":{"rendered":"Finding Community as an Expat"},"content":{"rendered":"
\u201cI\u2019m bored. I think I might go back to Canada.\u201d<\/p>\n
Two of our neighbours in Mexico were chatting in the courtyard outside the front door of our condo.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhy would you want to do that?\u201d Shocked and dismayed, our other neighbour couldn’t fathom why someone would move to Mexico and wander back to a land they wanted to leave in the first place.<\/p>\n
Engulfed in a tropical setting of palm trees, colourful flowers, hummingbirds, and a swimming pool, one neighbour declared boredom in what many people respond with, \u201cJust another day in paradise.\u201d<\/p>\n
I did not interrupt their conversation, all the while thinking of going out and giving the doubting neighbour\u2019s head a shake.<\/p>\n
I\u2019m bored.<\/em><\/p>\n How can someone be bored living where the weather is near-perfect, people are smiling, fresh food is affordable and abundant and there is freedom all around?<\/p>\n Lack of connection. That\u2019s how.<\/p>\n My bored neighbour has been here a little over a month basking in the eternal sunshine and exploring a 16th<\/sup>-century “Pueblo Magico” in Mexico, and he’s considering a move back to the land of ice, snow, and Justin Trudeau.<\/p>\n I\u2019m flabbergasted.<\/em><\/p>\n It\u2019s Carnival in our town right now. Fat Tuesday festivities are going strong today. Activities fill the week, culminating with an evening concert. Parades. Concerts. Flour fights. Confetti. Mexican music pounds almost all day long. Cohetes go off with a series of bangs in the distance. Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday and the start of Lent, so the locals get their partying out of their systems to prepare for the Holy Week of repentance ahead. Boring does not describe the current situation.<\/p>\n Being an Expat is Not for Everyone There are many opportunities to learn about the culture and make new friends. Not everyone is a social butterfly, so how does a person find community as an expat? How can you connect and flourish in your new surroundings?<\/p>\n Join Online Groups<\/strong><\/p>\n Before you come, connect with like-minded people online. There are tons of Facebook groups to join. Beware. Take what a lot of them say with a grain of salt. People are strange.<\/p>\n My connections for local information sources are in Telegram groups. These groups post anything from where to get your jewelry fixed to scams and crime watches. Events detailing festivals, live music, buffets, and anything you can picture on a bulletin board flood my channels daily. You can be as involved or uninvolved as you want to be. Events are going on in my town all day, every day.<\/p>\n Joining online groups is also a great way to stay on top of the rental market prices and determine fair market values. Knowledge is power.<\/p>\n Leave the Car at Home<\/strong><\/p>\n You see so much more on your feet than in a tin can on wheels. Hole-in-the-wall restaurants, clothing shops with no signage, travel deals, and banners advertising tequila tastings would all pass you by if you were in a car. When you walk, you can absorb your surroundings by seeing and hearing events around you. In a car, you\u2019re too busy trying to avoid an accident.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Annual Regata de Globos in Ajijic<\/em><\/p>\n Sit down in the main squares and be prepared to talk with people. Other expats usually like to get to know who you are and welcome you to the neighbourhood. Locals will greet you and speak with you, too. Even if you don’t know the language, having someone smile at you and wish you a good day with a big smile on their face will brighten the mood.<\/p>\n Play Sports<\/strong><\/p>\n Pickleball is the fastest-growing sport in the U.S.A.<\/a> It is also a super popular sport where I live. There are 20 pickleball courts in my area, and they are always busy. I had never played pickleball, but our friends invited my husband and me to play with them every Wednesday morning to do something together as a couple. It’s great fun and great exercise.<\/p>\n You can sign up for lessons and join leagues depending on how competitive you want to be. We are still in the newbie phase, but the heat is about to get turned up. Game on.<\/p>\n Join Hiking, Biking, Walking, or Running Clubs<\/strong><\/p>\n People are always looking for others to walk, hike, or bike with. We see groups cycling and running quite often. Is there anything better than an invigorating walk in nature to clear your head in the morning? Do it with a group and make an event out of it. Go for coffee after, and maybe visit a popular donut shop nearby to refuel after burning so many calories.<\/p>\n Get Involved with a Church<\/strong><\/p>\n Local churches are a wonderful way to make friends and find ways to help you become a contributing member of your new community. There are numerous volunteer opportunities you may not find out about otherwise.<\/p>\n Our church family is a loving family.<\/a>\u00a0A person can get lonely when you are away from your family back home. Going to church and the activities offered fills the loneliness with hugs, smiles, songs, and most importantly, the Word of God. You will never be alone, nor will you ever be bored.<\/p>\n Visit Local Societies<\/strong><\/p>\n The Lake Chapala Society<\/a> helps expats learn the ropes about their new home. How to adapt, how to get a license, how to learn Mexican manners, how to find doctors, and the list goes on. You can volunteer to help, attend events, go for lunches and coffee, borrow books from their library, or whatever your heart desires.<\/p>\n Take Language Classes<\/strong><\/p>\n There are usually free and paid conversational language classes you can join. We discovered a free conversational\u00a0Spanish<\/a> meetup by attending our local Wednesday market.\u00a0At the classes, you will meet language speakers of all levels. It can be intimidating to start but stretching your comfort zone helps you grow. We still run into people we met at the classes when we first moved here, and they always stop to say, “Hola!”<\/p>\n Have a Spa Day<\/strong><\/p>\n We all need a little pampering, so why not make it a day with friends? Visiting the spa is affordable where I live in Mexico<\/a>. There are more than indoor options. Head to hot springs where you can jump into a bubbling specialized jacuzzi of oatmeal, chocolate, or red wine. Yes, those do exist.<\/p>\n
\n<\/strong>Some people don\u2019t know what to do when they relocate to a new country. Rest assured, it will be nothing like the home you left. For most people, that\u2019s a good thing.<\/p>\n