Emanuela, Alessandra, Simona and Francesca: what to say--this was such an EPIC article! I loved reading about all the different ways you all searched for, found and even created communities in the different cities you've lived in! Also, thanks so much for mentioning my article about my networking experiment in NYC! 🫶
I must say, after living in 5 different countries as an expat, plus a few more as a digital nomad, I’ve really had the chance to observe how ever-changing the process of seeking community is. In my early years abroad, I mostly looked for friendships (preferably with non-Italians, lol) and people to grab coffee or hang out with. As a digital nomad, I was DYING to meet fellow nomads and learn what they did and how they supported themselves (I even ended up writing an article about it recently because that curiosity hasn’t faded yet :D). Nowadays, as an expat worker in NYC, I love meeting people who feed each of my interests and talking about what people do in life!
So, anyway, your article added another little piece to my puzzle of curiosity. Great job!
Cate, I absolutely agree: our needs evolve over time, and so do the opportunities and ways we choose to connect. For over ten years, I didn’t feel the need to spend much time with the Italian community. Later, it became something I truly longed for. Tomorrow? Who knows! Let’s see!
This sparks my desire to connect with others. After years trying, I settled for my circle of friends and colleagues but you wrote this piece with such enthusiasm that I must say, I'm now on the lookout for such experiences.
The only one I attempted is Internations and we weren't a match. But your post inspired me to look for or, why not, create a community group.
Thank you for all the work you do around Inclusion!
Wonderful principles about the importance of community and how to find yours. You may be speaking to someone in a foreign country, but your principles apply to so many situations in which finding a community of like-minded people can be so important.
Why community matters is a larger world 🌎 wide question 🙋♀️ that needs to be asked… and responded to by the many who have successfully demonstrated it! I love love love ❤️ this post so much. Because… it is near and dear to my heart and my purpose. To bring people together all uniquely different walks of life and have a positive purpose.
Emanuela, I really appreciated the warmth and clarity of your essay—your reflections on expat life and building connection resonated with me. That said, I wanted to share two things that left me frustrated:
Couchsurfing didn’t even offer a preview without demanding payment upfront, which felt exclusionary. And Internations still doesn’t let users select a non-binary gender during sign-up—a basic feature that should be standard by now.
Thank you for the thought you put into this piece. I believe inclusion has to show up not just in stories, but in the tools and spaces we’re invited to use.
Jay! I truly love hearing your point of view every time you show up. You have the ability to highlight such important issues in our society. Your contributions often help me see myself from new angles — especially those blind spots we don’t notice until someone points them out. Because until you experience exclusion, you often don’t recognize it. I’m grateful to see it through your eyes. Thank you for opening the eyes of this community.
Thank for sharing all of this. It is encouraging and I want to create, I will create, and allow it to all build. I am not an expat but left my life in Utah and figuring out in Hawaii while working from home. I am sure there are others here creating something new and looking for community. This is very encouraging.
What a great initiative! I love how you created a space for more personal connections. Hoping the Cool Beans community will continue growing and get the message out there 🙌
Me too, I’m inspired by stories of people who take initiative to improve the lives of those around them! I was so happy to share Cool Beans approach to bringing people together, and I hope this energy can spark similar connections in other cities!
Such an interesting read, ladies. I remember when I first moved to Bangkok, I found my community through Couchsurfing also. That was also back when couchsurfing was big! What a fun community that was before it devolved into what became basically a hookup site.
I think this is incredible what you guys are doing in Chicago, Francesca! I didn't realize that your club was so expansive and doing so many things, good for you! Sounds like a wonderful option for people moving to the city from another country.
thank you Kaila! Your experience is also another reason why we are trying to build something different. Many communities or social clubs or one-off dinners seem more a place where people is trying to date rather than finding a community of people that went through the same experiences. Nothing wrong with also finding your love (actually that would be cool!!) but not becoming the main goal. Thank you for your kind words!
Kaila, reading your comment reminded me how much things evolve over time—and how essential it is to shape new concepts that truly respond to our changing needs and realities!
Absolutely, I am learning to be more intuitive for just that reason, Emanuela! So important, particularly when the setting is different from what you're used to.
Emanuela, Alessandra, Simona and Francesca: what to say--this was such an EPIC article! I loved reading about all the different ways you all searched for, found and even created communities in the different cities you've lived in! Also, thanks so much for mentioning my article about my networking experiment in NYC! 🫶
I must say, after living in 5 different countries as an expat, plus a few more as a digital nomad, I’ve really had the chance to observe how ever-changing the process of seeking community is. In my early years abroad, I mostly looked for friendships (preferably with non-Italians, lol) and people to grab coffee or hang out with. As a digital nomad, I was DYING to meet fellow nomads and learn what they did and how they supported themselves (I even ended up writing an article about it recently because that curiosity hasn’t faded yet :D). Nowadays, as an expat worker in NYC, I love meeting people who feed each of my interests and talking about what people do in life!
So, anyway, your article added another little piece to my puzzle of curiosity. Great job!
Cate, I absolutely agree: our needs evolve over time, and so do the opportunities and ways we choose to connect. For over ten years, I didn’t feel the need to spend much time with the Italian community. Later, it became something I truly longed for. Tomorrow? Who knows! Let’s see!
This sparks my desire to connect with others. After years trying, I settled for my circle of friends and colleagues but you wrote this piece with such enthusiasm that I must say, I'm now on the lookout for such experiences.
The only one I attempted is Internations and we weren't a match. But your post inspired me to look for or, why not, create a community group.
Thank you for all the work you do around Inclusion!
Let me know if you find something that fits your needs !
Wonderful principles about the importance of community and how to find yours. You may be speaking to someone in a foreign country, but your principles apply to so many situations in which finding a community of like-minded people can be so important.
absolutely! Communities are what humans are good at and in embedded in our nature :)
You're absolutely right, Elizabeth — the need to belong to a community is universal, no matter where or when!
Why community matters is a larger world 🌎 wide question 🙋♀️ that needs to be asked… and responded to by the many who have successfully demonstrated it! I love love love ❤️ this post so much. Because… it is near and dear to my heart and my purpose. To bring people together all uniquely different walks of life and have a positive purpose.
What a beautiful purpose !
I love it!! Talking to people that have different life experiences is so enriching
Emanuela, I really appreciated the warmth and clarity of your essay—your reflections on expat life and building connection resonated with me. That said, I wanted to share two things that left me frustrated:
Couchsurfing didn’t even offer a preview without demanding payment upfront, which felt exclusionary. And Internations still doesn’t let users select a non-binary gender during sign-up—a basic feature that should be standard by now.
Thank you for the thought you put into this piece. I believe inclusion has to show up not just in stories, but in the tools and spaces we’re invited to use.
Jay! I truly love hearing your point of view every time you show up. You have the ability to highlight such important issues in our society. Your contributions often help me see myself from new angles — especially those blind spots we don’t notice until someone points them out. Because until you experience exclusion, you often don’t recognize it. I’m grateful to see it through your eyes. Thank you for opening the eyes of this community.
Thank for sharing all of this. It is encouraging and I want to create, I will create, and allow it to all build. I am not an expat but left my life in Utah and figuring out in Hawaii while working from home. I am sure there are others here creating something new and looking for community. This is very encouraging.
Changing places — even within our own country — can be just as challenging as moving abroad. I’d love to hear about your experience!
What a great initiative! I love how you created a space for more personal connections. Hoping the Cool Beans community will continue growing and get the message out there 🙌
thank you so much! This is has been a fun rollercoaster !
Me too, I’m inspired by stories of people who take initiative to improve the lives of those around them! I was so happy to share Cool Beans approach to bringing people together, and I hope this energy can spark similar connections in other cities!
Loved reading this 🥰
Glad you enjoyed reading ! Subscribe to Inclusion Room to get more post on inclusion and Life abroad!
What a beautiful experience 😍
Such an interesting read, ladies. I remember when I first moved to Bangkok, I found my community through Couchsurfing also. That was also back when couchsurfing was big! What a fun community that was before it devolved into what became basically a hookup site.
I think this is incredible what you guys are doing in Chicago, Francesca! I didn't realize that your club was so expansive and doing so many things, good for you! Sounds like a wonderful option for people moving to the city from another country.
thank you Kaila! Your experience is also another reason why we are trying to build something different. Many communities or social clubs or one-off dinners seem more a place where people is trying to date rather than finding a community of people that went through the same experiences. Nothing wrong with also finding your love (actually that would be cool!!) but not becoming the main goal. Thank you for your kind words!
Kaila, reading your comment reminded me how much things evolve over time—and how essential it is to shape new concepts that truly respond to our changing needs and realities!
Absolutely, I am learning to be more intuitive for just that reason, Emanuela! So important, particularly when the setting is different from what you're used to.