Lonely expat life

[expatfaraway]

Just posting for traffic really. We moved abroad a year and a half ago for DH’s work. I’m lucky to speak the language reasonably well but I have not made any friends or even had any social contact beyond what DH arranges with his work colleagues. We have two DCs but school gate hasn’t proven to be a meeting ground. I found an expat group on Facebook and went to a couple of events but didn’t fit in at all. (DH is an academic and I have a part time job, everyone else was a trailing spouse of a hugh earner, travelling loads, that sort of thing).

It’s Saturday evening and DH is away at a conference and the DCs are in bed. I’m just feeling so lonely and missing having a social life. I know I’m just moaning but I’m also feeling a bit down.

Oh that sounds tough.

Do you do any hobby type things?
Could you join a group and meet people that way?

Volunteer at DC school? Have a coffee morning? (I have no idea if these are things in the country you are in)

Can you ask a school mum for a coffee? Pick them off one by one...

I think you are going to have to put your self out there a bit to make anything change.

I'm sure there are other expat groups? Or persevere with that one-maybe there will be someone else feeling like you do?

Culturally is it open and friendly or more guarded?

I sympathize. It can be very hard being a trailing spouse and you seem to be doing the right things.

You have an advantage that you does the local language, are you able to try to get involved in some local activities around you? Also for the expat Facebook group was it a group for expats generally or British expats? I say that because I live in the US and there are groups for Brits in the US and Brits in Chicago where I live which are great communities to find people close to you.

Depending on the age of your kids one way is to make friends with the parents if their friends from school. Or look into volunteer opportunities at school.

Is this a permanent move or for a specific duration?