One of the big perks to an international move for many partners and families is getting a chance to travel and discover new countries. But is there a risk that some overlook the value of making friends?
On the road
Many members of our community have told us that travel was one of the major draws to relocation. “We hit the road any chance we get,” said one American expat, now living in Germany. However, subsequently he also mentioned that he and his wife were struggling to meet people and make friends. These two statements begged a question – is travelling to other countries (or parts of their host country) every weekend making it harder for them to forge meaningful connections within their community? Because, even if travel is truly an expat family / couple’s raison d’être, they also benefit from building a social network, too.
Assessing needs
Of course, every expat partner and their spouse / family should assess their own needs when setting their priorities. Some expats and their partners would (very reasonably) argue that they don’t want to look back and regret not making the most of a golden opportunity to see the world. After all, international assignments are not forever. But if an expat is also struggling to find their place in a community, feelings of isolation can creep in and that can jeopardise the assignment (or perhaps an extension of their stay).
Strike a balance
When an expat partner is not working, this all might sound like a non-issue. Surely, they can socialise during the weekdays and hit the road on the weekends. But that situation might not be ideal for the working partner who might only have time to build meaningful friendships on weekends. In some cultures / communities it’s also harder to meet and befriend people. It takes more time and effort. A little strategic planning might be required. For example, instead of jumping in the car and hitting the road, an expat couple could invite new acquaintances or neighbours over for a coffee or lunch on the weekend. For that reason it’s best that expat couples sit down and consider not only where they’d like to visit in the next year or two, but how they would like to socialise and fit into their new community.
