Networking is your best friend!
In real estate they say "location, location, location."
When moving to another country they say "network, network, network."
As I prepare for my big move to Brussels (see my articles each Tuesday for the last month or so), I've been working my network to assist me in getting situated. Luckily I've been fairly engaged, so have a few groups of folks that can help me out internationally.
1) Our office in Brussels: Obviously our European office has been a great resource for me. They've given me a checklist of bureaucratic hoops to jump through (see my 1/22/08 article). And they are doing some legwork to find me some apartment options.
2) Ex-Patriots connections: No, these are not people who are no longer Patriot fans (I mean, really, who could not be a Patriot fan right now?). These are networks of Americans (or Canadians or Aussies or Brits, etc) living in Brussels that help each other find everything from furniture to the best bars. Two are www.expats.com and www.xpats.com.
3) Friends who have friends: Because of the global nature of many businesses these days, I met people who work for multinational companies or international government agencies or nongovernmental organizations. They've been a great help in linking me with colleagues and friends in Brussels in particular or in Europe in general. Added to my own European friends, colleagues, and acquaintances I feel I'm in pretty good shape.
4) Colleagues who have lived there: Over the past several years my firm has had several partners who have been temporarily relocated from our DC to our Brussels office. Their stints of 1-year each have given them wonderful insight, which they have been happy to pass along.
5) Scientific organizations: I belong to, and have been active in, two major international scientific organizations. Both have European divisions, and the Executive Directors have helped introduce me to key folks in Europe, in addiiton to my own contacts built up through meeting attendance, etc.
6) Gather: You guys! The assistance, support, and insights I've received from Gather members has been amazing. I truly feel privileged to have "met" so many of you and that you have been willing to offer your experiences, your travels, and your passions to this project. Thank you all so much!
Til next time...cheers (by the way, the photo accompanying this week's installment is from my 3-month stint living in Scotland in 2005 [with a former company]). Take a look.
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Comments: 60
Whenever you make a big move like this or adversity strikes, you really find out who your friends are. Somethings you find friends in the most unexpected places (like Gather).
I am curious (translates to nosy) about what you do and why. Take care.
good luck!
As for what I do, the easiest way to describe it is that I am a scientific consultant working in a law firm making sure that companies comply with existing environmental and health laws in the US and abroad. I see my role as helping them see that compliance is just the beginning, and that "beyond compliance" can give them a sustainable competitive advantage.
For example, I already have a meeting in Rome scheduled for June, plus perhaps another to the Netherlands later that month. Then there are scientific meetings in Warsaw (Poland) and Valencia (Spain) that I will be lobbying my firm to let me attend.
(spelling: expatriates)
Blessings
Rene A.