There is one tool that I used when I relocated to Hong Kong and I use it today since I moved to the UAE. There are other ways to socialize and meet people but I find that this one is easy to use and it gives you a broad spectrum of meeting people with similar interests, goals, or experiences.
Two Types of Travelers
Before I tell you what it is, let’s talk about the type of travelers we see. We all generally fall into two categories:
- You planned out your itinerary days, if not weeks, in advance so you know exactly which places you’re going to, which places you’re eating, how you’re getting there, and how much it all costs.
- You hop on the plane with no expectations. Go with the flow! You may meet people who are also travelling or you ask the information booths or locals about which are the hot spots in town.
As an expat, however, it’s a bit different in a sense that you are fully aware that it’s not just a trip or a vacation. You know you’re going to be settling there and although you can go through the first few weeks feeling like a tourist to go sightseeing and exploring the landmarks of the city, eventually, you will need to find ways to spend your weekends. There are solo expats that get by just fine but if you’re like me, you want to meet people, make new friends, build your social circle, and expand your network.
A Great Social Platform
Meetup is a social networking platform that revolves around groups and in turn, events or what they call meetups. They have a website and apps that you can download from the iOS App Store or the Android Play Store. The premise is that you join a group that interests you and then you sign up to participate in these social events. For newcomers, it’s a great way to meet people. Better yet, even after you have your own group of friends, you can still use Meetup to organize your weekly hiking trips or happy hour socials!
It’s free to sign up!
Not many things come free in life but this one does! After you create your free account, you can join as many groups as you want. Within each group, event organizers or hosts will notify you of any upcoming events. You can then submit your RSVP and bring a friend or two (going alone may seem a bit intimidating at first).
Every city I visit, especially if I know I am going to be staying for at least a few weeks, I change my location in the app on my smartphone. I highly recommend going this route regardless if you have the time to make it out to any of the events.
When I first arrived in Hong Kong as an expat, I literally had about 2 friends. My social life was diminishing quickly. I found out about Meetup and signed up for an account. I’ve always been into volleyball (beach or indoor) so that was the first thing I looked for. Lucky enough, there was quite a large community in Hong Kong with 2000 members! I signed up for an event, met friends that I still keep in touch with today and it just skyrocketed from there. Before I knew it, my social circle expanded within a matter of weeks.
If you can’t find a group you’re interested in, create one! Creating a Meetup group does have a small subscription cost tied to it though. They have 2 types: Basic & Unlimited; pricing shown below.
With your own group or community revolving around something you’re passionate about, you’ll have created the opportunity for others to join you!
How did you meet people when you first settled into a new city? Have you used Meetup before? What was your experience? Please share in the comments below!
