Using Instagram to create a destination-focused ‘personal blog’ can be a fun way to not only discover your adopted hometown but to showcase it to others, too.
A nice topic
If you focus on a niche topic, Instagram can be an effective digital tool for learning and discovery, especially when it comes to destinations. By selectively choosing who you follow, you can ‘curate’ your feed. That means you won’t be subjected to too much of the vacuous content that might turn you off Instagram! Large extra bonus: A well-curated and dedicated feed can also help you learn about your new home as well as inspire you to get out of the house and discover it first hand.
Interesting insights
If you follow, for example, locally-based photographers, tourism boards, history and culture experts, foodies, museums, galleries and artists, you will likely get plenty of interesting insights into your new domain. All you have to do is make a note of the places that intrigue you and you have a hit-list and itinerary for next weekend.
Take your pictures
But you don’t have to be a voyeur. You can also contribute to how your host country is viewed by others. All you have to do is snap a picture or make and share a story while you explore. Your destination-focused feed can be a handy way to showcase your new home and life to friends and family members, who might be curious to see the local cultural attractions and culinary specialties. Even something as banal as traffic and public transport can appear fascinating to people back home! You can always supplement your discoveries with some research into local history and further enhance your understanding of your surroundings.
Social networking
Even if you already have an Instagram account, consider setting up a new one that clearly indicates your focus will be your new hometown or host country. It will make you feel like you’re a contributing member of the ‘Insta’ community. Make yourself known to others. Don’t just press ‘like’ on their posts. Comment on the pictures that intrigue you. Ask questions. Active instagrammers are often happy to respond and you can expand your own social network this way. Just remember, using Instagram isn’t the end goal – the app is just a fun way to learn, discover, network and share your experiences. So remember to put the phone away and interact with the non-virtual world!
This article was originally published for the thousands of expat partners that Global Connection supports around the globe. It is reproduced here in its original form.
