In the new country all my home networks have lost their effectiveness. Thanks to internet it has been possible to keep them alive and to continue interacting with friends, class and work-mates and, relatives. But their capacity to support me or to provide me access to new contacts of to specific resources is almost inexistent. This has obliged me to invest enormous resources and effort into rebuilding new networks.
Embedded in your home country you don’t realise the value and scope of the networks in which you are involved. Starting from close family a members and school mates and including all the acquaintances cumulated along professional life the scope of the local networks is impressive. These enabled access to all kinds of resources: information, new contacts, trust, jobs, holidays, coaches, etc.
To re-build and develop useful networks is one of the emerging challenges when migrating. There is not a single formula to apply, instead a combination of strategies might be effective.
- Friends of my friends: use previous acquaintances to leverage new ones; the trust you already have created with your friends might be easily transferred to new leads.
- Public events: attend conferences, seminars, parties, exhibitions, etc. Where you can be in contact with people having similar interests.
- Blog: create a blog and publish your ideas, feelings, experiences… It’s easy and it’s free. You gain visibility.
- Host: welcome people at home, offer your place to friends travelling for holidays, arrange diners, use social life at your own place strategically.
- Email groups: there are thousands of groups, scan google or yahoo to identify some of them where you can contribute and learn.
- Clubs and associations: these would provide you access to information an entitle you with a trusted membership
- Personal cards: print personal cards, there are free printers that might do a good job for you or use the cheap machines in train stations.
These are just but few…might you share some of yours?
