Joint Events and Virtual Travels — How Our Communities Are Connecting Online

As our communities have still not fully returned to their regular in-person events, Ambassadors and Consuls around the world are going to great lengths to connect expats and global minds in their own communities and beyond. Joint events and activities have started popping up everywhere to bring people together. Let’s take a look at the highlights!

Connecting across Communities

The Dubai Intellectual Discussion Group began their Escape from Reality Chit-Chat series on 9 May, together with the Beirut Global Professional Networking Group. Taking place around noon, this activity is the perfect opportunity to take a break from work with some laughter and delightful conversation. On 16 May, members of the Nicosia Work Less Play More Group also joined in on the fun. And there are more such activities scheduled through the end of May.

InterNations Chicago participated not only in one but two joint events in May. Partnering with Kristina Ojdanic, one of the Ambassadors of the Los Angeles Community, Cecile Bouheraoua organized a fun night of speed-socializing with members on 10 May. To get to know one another, members in LA and Chicago shared photos of their favorite spots in their city and from their favorite past events. On 17 May, the Chicago Community partnered with Van O’Brian, a Consul in Accra, Ghana, to connect expats and global minds across continents with another fun social event.

A joint event, coming up soon on Friday, 22 May, will connect the north and the south. InterNations Communities in Malmoe, Florence, and Riga are getting together for lively discussions and to enjoy some music by Florence Ambassador Giampiero Erre. In a time when physical travel is not possible, why not travel virtually, to toast your fellow global members?

Getting Inspired and Traveling from Home

In April, the London Day & Night Hangouts Group hosted their “Fitting Rooms” Online Social. Group members joined virtual rooms to chat about different topics, ranging from professional networking and travel experiences to culture and relationships. After the great success of this activity, the London, Ontario, Ambassador felt inspired to introduce the concept to his community as well. If you missed the “Fitting Rooms” Social in the UK, join London, Ontario, for some online mingling and socializing on Saturday, 30 May.

If you would like to explore a foreign country but are stuck at home, check out the activity hosted by the London Kensington & Chelsea Group on Wednesday, 20 May. Nerka Jugo will act as a guide and take you on a virtual tour around Sarajevo. Following the motto East and West at Its Best, she will introduce you to the city’s multiculturalism, architecture, nature, and the history that still has an influence on it today.

Staying Healthy and Happy

Berlin Ambassador Nadine Brecht hosted the second edition of her interactive talk “Inspiring Faces” on 9 May. Her goal is to introduce entrepreneurs, artists, and therapists who share their best advice on how to stay healthy and happy during the pandemic. In this second edition of the series, personal trainer Winviell Casimir shared his story about how his expat journey took him from St. Lucia in the Caribbean to Berlin — and offered advice on how to stay fit.

Members of the Seattle Literature Group trained their minds instead and met online for a “Watcha Reading?” Saturday Chat on 16 May. Since browsing a bookstore or library shelf isn’t possible at the moment, booklovers shared their personal recommendations with one another, reviewed their recent reads, and discussed their favorites across genres or language.

Why don’t you, too, venture beyond your city and join online events around the globe? Just check your events calendar and find out about the many new ways to enjoy shared experiences virtually.

Keeping Up the InterNations Spirit: Online Events and Activities to Make It Through Social Distancing

After social distancing laws were implemented in many of our communities, our Ambassadors and Consuls had to get creative. With the help of the internet, group call software, and their dedicated communities, they have organized a variety of online events and activities, ranging from parties and coffee chats to therapy sessions and science talks. Have a look at some of the highlights!

Monthly Events Take to the Screen

When their event got canceled due to the coronavirus outbreak, Stockholm Ambassadors Amaris and Johannes quickly came up with a solution: they organized a virtual beach party instead! They shared a playlist with beach songs and encouraged their members to dress in their favorite summer outfits and to bring some snacks. With virtual break rooms that allowed members to meet and talk and a total of 54 attendees, this event was not just the first official event online in Scandinavia and all of Europe, it was also a great success.

At the end of March, InterNations Casablanca went virtual and hosted an online event with DJ Maao. Ambassadors Patrick and Douglas asked their members to put on their favorite party outfits and get ready. In total, 40 people attended the event and enjoyed the live DJ performance. “The members were quite happy, and we received some nice messages,” the Ambassadors said. Some of them even shared their experience on Instagram, using the hashtag #internationscasa.

Our community in Tampa Bay hosted their first online event in March, and is now getting ready for the second one, scheduled for Friday, 24 April. Besides meeting up on ZOOM and sharing a drink, Ambassadors Keny, Alvin, and Paula have a whole list of activities planned: you can create a homemade face mask, participate in a show & tell, or play a round of Bingo. Why don’t you join in on the fun too?

Share a Drink, Have a Chat

The Malmoe Coffee Break Group has always upheld the very Swedish tradition of fika, a coffee break that is an important ritual and deeply embedded in Swedish culture. Now the group has taken their activities to virtual realms with an Online Fika. Unlike the bigger events, this was a more relaxed activity with the purpose of getting to know one another, sharing a hot beverage, and showing off your most loyal mug or cup.

Between stress-eating and spending a lot of time at home, staying in shape can be a bit of a challenge. The Milan La Dolce Vita Group used their virtual Easter Monday Aperitivo to share some of their healthy habits — from exercise routines to nutritional strategies. This was already the fourth online activity hosted by Group Consul Francesco. The number of participants at his aperitivos keeps increasing week by week, and members from different communities have started to join in on the fun.

The Hong Kong Professional Networking Group also hosted a “drink activity”. The event lasted for an hour and a half and had the same spirit as the group’s in-person activities. Participants didn’t just talk about their favorite drinks, they also shared memories about their first jobs. It is not surprising that this group is very successful and was also one of the first groups in the world to organize online activities.

Although everyone is staying home, the Munich Expat Investment Group is as active as can be. In fact, Consul Wendy created this group just before the crisis hit, so the “Let’s Talk Investment over Virtual Happy Hour” Activity was the first one she organized for this group and it was very successful. After this panel discussion, group members can look forward to another virtual happy hour about real estate investments, coming up on Saturday, 25 April.

Therapy Sessions and Science Talks

In order to address the mental implications of social distancing, the Thessaloniki City Trotters hosted an open laughing therapy at the beginning of April. Led by InterNations member Eliana, the group dipped into the power and joy of a good laugh. What was originally planned as a small activity for 18 attendees ended up having 100 participants from all over the world.

The Paris Science Group took on not one but two topics related to love. Consul Fred Nour is a neurologist and regularly hosts virtual talks. This time, the group discussed what falling out of love means and how to understand true love based on brain science. The group was created just before the lockdown, and since then it has been very active online, attracting lots of participants. If you missed these activities or if you want to know more about these topics, Fred has also uploaded the virtual talks to YouTube.

Get Creative

Margie, the Consul of the Seattle Literature Group got very creative with two activities organized for the month of April, both of which were cross-featured in many other communities. The first one was a microfiction challenge: after choosing a specific genre and action, each participant wrote a short story. Their literary creations were later discussed with the other members.

Her second activity, scheduled to take place on Saturday, 25 April, is perfect for all hobby cooks and bakers: it’s the group’s first ever edible book extravaganza! Participants get the chance to create their own personal expression of a literary work, character, or theme, using only edible ingredients. They can then submit their creation and see if it’s picked as a favorite during the online activity. Time to get crafty in the kitchen!

If you want to join one of our fun online events or activities and meet other members at a safe distance, check out our events calendar. If you are a member of a group and have a great idea for an activity, why not organize it yourself? Check out our article on how to create virtual events and connect with your community.

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From Valentine’s to Carnival — A Fun-Filled February with InterNations

February might be flying by but that hasn’t stopped our communities across the globe from filling it with fun events and activities. Let’s take a look at our highlights for February and at our upcoming carnival celebrations!

Love Is in The Air

Photo credit: Brad Ottosen

Our Houston Community enjoyed a “Pre-Valentine’s Day” celebration on Thursday, 13 February. The event was held at Axelrad, a well-known craft-beer garden in Houston. Expats and global minds got together to raise a glass to love and spend the evening socializing with each other — thank you to our Ambassadors Natalia Regan, Andrew Lin, Julia Tkachenko, and Larysa Polunin for organizing such a great event!

Photo credit: Lucia Molina

Our Ambassadors in Paris, Antoni Cordero, Isabelle Besnier, and Valerie Butin, hosted an InterNations Saint Valentine Celebration on Friday, 14 February. The fun party took place at the Marriott Opera Ambassador Hotel and provided an opportunity for expats to mingle with like-minded individuals and dance the night away together. With Valentines-themed cakes and a DJ, the event was the perfect way to celebrate the day of love.

Photo credit: Ellno Stadler

The St. Gallen Community decided to enjoy the most romantic day of the year together with friends. The event was held at Stars and Stripes restaurant on Friday, 14 February. Expats and global minds networked with each other and new members were welcomed to the community, which made for a very successful evening. Thank you to our Ambassadors Ellno Stadler and Dominika Repkova for organizing the event!

Photo credit: Jaymee Lyn

Thanks to their Ambassadors, Hasan AbuJabal and Maha A.H, our Khobar Community had a fabulous night at the Rezayat Residential Complex on Saturday, 15 February. With a DJ, delicious food, Cupid’s photobooth, a lucky draw, giveaways, and much more, the entertaining evening was a great success!

Photo credit: Amr Heikal

For expats and global minds who didn’t feel so romantic, the Dubai Bars & Lounges Group hosted an Anti-Valentines Get-Together at the Dusit Thani Hotel on Thursday, 13 February. The activity hosts Cristina Caringal and Melissa Carelse arranged an evening with games, raffles, and the chance to win some great prizes such as a brunch for two people — a big thank you to our hosts for their hard work!

Photo credit: Carlos Eduardo Lima

Our Brussels Community also celebrated with a pink Anti-Valentines party, where couples and singletons alike were welcomed by their Ambassador Munira Aminova. Held at Callens Restaurant on Friday, 14 February, everyone joined together to celebrate in style with their international friends at the event. The friendly atmosphere provided an easy way for expats and global minds to network with each other. With jazz music and a DJ later in the evening, there was something for everyone!

Carnival Season Is Here!

Come and join the carnival party with our Nice Community on Wednesday, 26 February! Our Ambassadors, Faye Lecomte, Diana Gheorghe, Sophie Rossi, Livia Bellova, Salah Sabry, and Nadia Ridelle are delighted to invite the community to a masked event at the fabulous Ellington Hotel. Starting at 19:30, the evening promises to be an opportunity to socialize, party, and enjoy the music!

For those of you in Oslo, why not attend the February Carnival Extravaganza on Friday, 28 February? Choose your brightest outfits and dance away the cold winter blues at Smetverket, the longest bar in Oslo! Starting at 21:00, the cozy atmosphere will be a great place to have a drink, mix, mingle, and dance with new friends.

Watch out, carnival fans! Get your costumes ready for a trip to the Rabadan carnival party in Bellinzona with the Lugano Ascona – Locarno Activities Group on Saturday, 22 February from 21:00. Make the most of the impressive concert shows, DJ, and opportunities to dance with other group members! For those who can’t make it on Saturday, come and join the Lugano Arts and Culture Group at Bellinoza on Sunday, 23 February from 13:30. The group will meet at Bellinoza to watch the parade — a great opportunity to dress up and have fun!

Our activity hosts Fedra Santos and Denis Wong are spoiling the Johannesburg Afterwork & Nightlife Group on Saturday, 22 February with a carnival-themed party. Starting at 16:00, the celebration is a fun and colorful way to enjoy the carnival season. Held at the impressive Hyatt Regency Hotel, it’s a great opportunity to get creative with your costumes and join the party! With live music and prizes for the best costumes, including a voucher for an overnight stay at the hotel, it’s sure to be a memorable evening.

Don’t forget to check the events calendar to find out what is happening in our communities across the world.

Cheers to the New Year: January at InterNations

Our communities across the globe have been busy ringing in the new decade, with lots of fun events and activities. After a busy December, the January blues can hit hard but luckily, we have a lot more coming up to keep the celebrations going!

In with a Bang

Photo credit: Sulaiman Shaqsi

Our Abu Dhabi Community kept the good times going with an InterNations Welcome 2020 Celebration & Afterparty. The glamorous event was held at the impressive venue Annex, at the Edition Hotel on Thursday, 9 January. Members dressed to impress to celebrate the beginning of the new year together in a sophisticated ambiance — thank you to our Ambassadors Loretta Mazzuchin, Farrah Alenie Cañaliso, and Jivka Dimitrova for organizing this fun event!

Photo credit: Maha A.H

Both new and experienced members of the Khobar Community got together to welcome 2020 on Tuesday, 31 December. Our Ambassadors Hasan AbuJabal and Maha A.H spoiled members with a delicious buffet dinner at the private banquet hall of Brasa de Brazil. The venue offered a spectacular view of the sea, making it the perfect setting to celebrate the new year. With private fireworks, it was a night full of entertainment and fun with lots of memories made to be cherished for life.

Photo credit: Amr Heikal

On Tuesday, 31 December, the Dubai DinnerNations Group rang in the New Year with an extravaganza at Dubai Marine Beach Resort. The evening consisted of unlimited drinks with great food, live music, and new friends. Impressive fireworks and a countdown on the beach were a perfect way to end the special evening. A big thank you to our hosts Cristina Caringal, Aline Fiat, and Amr Heikal for an evening to remember!

Photo credit: Hamdi Hmani

Our Amsterdam Community raised their glasses to success with both old and new friends at one of the highest rooftops in Amsterdam. Our Ambassadors Niels Bertschat, Zoya Zimina, Prem Narayan, and Sabrina Miklavcic held the elegant event at Floor 17, Leonardo Hotel on Friday, 10 January. The beautiful setting provided an opportunity for both expats and global minds to socialize and network with each other.

Photo credit: Sanaa Khalil

Our Edmonton Community also kicked off the new year on Saturday, 11 January. Members celebrated the occasion with good friends, delicious food, and great drinks in the heart of the city. The Japanese inspired Tokeo Station was the venue of choice for this fun event, hosted by our Ambassadors Zeev Shaposhnik and Sanaa Khalil.

The Celebrations Continue

Our Vancouver Community is keeping the New Year celebrations going with an event on Friday, 24 January. Our Ambassadors Sayora A and Felix J Emmanuel are hosting the evening at The Whiskey Room at Devil’s Elbow. As their first official event of 2020 and the new decade, it provides a great opportunity to share goals and unique life stories with each other, catch up, and just have a good time together!

The Bern Hiking Group will head to Grindelwald on Saturday, 25 January. A walk around the World Snow Festival to look at the snow sculptures and explore the area with fellow expats and global minds, followed by a well-deserved pizza, promises to be a pleasant activity. Come and join the group for an enjoyable weekend day trip.

Another fun upcoming event is a welcome party for newcomers in the Zug Social Group. Thanks to activity host Hakan Ilgar, the group is invited to dance the night away on Sunday, 26 January at Mantra Bar in Zug. Feel free to join and enjoy the atmosphere at the trendy venue.

For those in Manama, why not welcome the Chinese New Year with a celebration in the city? Our Ambassador Aaryan Varman is hosting an event for the Manama Community on Monday, 27 January. Held at Wu Restaurant and Lounge on the Amwaj Islands, there will be a range of enticing signature dishes to enjoy. Make the most of the opportunity and share a memorable evening with fellow InterNations members and guests.

You can also celebrate the Chinese New Year with the Cincinnati Community. The event, hosted by our Ambassador Michael Beck, will be held at Shanghai Mama’s. Join fellow expats and global minds on Wednesday, 12 February to kick off the Chinese New Year positively.

No matter how you started off the new decade, we hope that 2020 will be a happy and successful year for you — we are looking forward to seeing you soon at one of our upcoming events and activities!

Don’t forget to check the events calendar to find out what is happening in our communities across the world.