When you think of social networking, what’s the first thing that comes to mind?  Is it business cards and cocktail parties, or online profiles and status updates?  Only a decade ago, we were relying on card exchanges and social gatherings as ways of meeting others.  However, in the 21st century, these means seem nearly archaic, since you can now network whenever you choose, wherever you choose by simply booting up your computer.

Online social communities have begun popping up all over the internet, and each offers something a little different to its users.  As an expatriate, these sites can be an incredible resource as you transition to your new country.  Whether you are looking to meet new friends, locate old ones, or gain professional contacts, you are bound to find the people you are looking for online. 

Here’s a list of a few sites that will help you to break into this online world, and shift your connections in the real world. 

Meet Friends
Have you ever of the idea of “six degrees of separation”?  It’s the theory that every person on Earth is connected by five other people.  For example, you work with someone whose sister’s husband went to high school with your mother.  Hard to believe it could ever happen, right?  Join MySpace, Facebook, or any other friend-driven social site, and watch in awe as your world shrinks. 

If you haven’t yet relocated to your new country yet, now is a great time to join one of these sites.  Create a profile and begin adding friends.  As your network expands, you may find that your current friends already have contacts in your new country.  They could introduce you, and then you would already have acquaintances there when you arrive.

Already living in your new country?  Many online social communities also have groups you can join to meet others with a similar interest.  For instance, if you were looking for expatriates in Brussels on Facebook, a simple search turns up a group with over 3,000 members.  There is a discussion forum available on the page, so you can ask questions and arrange events and meetings.

Another site that is popular with the expatriate community is Meetup.  This site allows you to join groups created by other users, then arrange actual meet-ups.  This perfect if you have moved to a new area because you can find groups of other newcomers, and arrange to meet up for coffee or explore the city.

Find Professional Contacts
If you are job hunting in your new country, consider joining LinkedIn.  In contrast to other social networking sites, LinkedIn focuses on making professional connections.  Your profile on this site is basically your resume, listing where you have attended school and work experience.  Then you link up with other professionals you know or work with, and in turn, are able to connect with other professionals in other industries.  For instance, you might have an interest in a career in the insurance industry (who could blame you!), but you don’t know anyone working in insurance.  However, if you look at your current contact’s profiles, you may see one of your friends is connected to a senior vice president at an insurance agency.  You could then have the friend introduce you, and you could begin to discuss the necessary steps to becoming a successful insurance agent, and have an “in” with a person in the industry.

Expatriate Sébastien Deschamps has embraced the LinkedIn phenomena, and created a group on the site called The Professional Expat Network for employees and job seekers alike.  Deschamps explains, “The network is a supportive group to share expat-related experiences and give exposure to international careers and career opportunities. Come and join us!”   This group is open to job seekers, expat service professionals, associations, relocation service providers and more, and currently has over 6,000 members.  You can join the group here.

Keep in Touch
Twitter is a website which allows you to send short messages to your “followers” about your current status.  These updates are called “tweets,” and are read by anyone following you, such as friends, family, or other contacts.  For instance, if you just read an article online about new expatriate trends, you can post the link, and all of your contacts can have access to it.  Or you could even post an update about your current status, like “Working late, call the office if you need me.”  It’s a similar concept to a blog, but you only post one or two sentences at a time.  Some businesses use this as a way of letting their customers know about new developments, or as method of communicating with staff internally.  The one aspect that makes Twitter truly unique is you can program your account to send and receive updates via your mobile phone, which makes it a great way to keep in touch when you are in a hurry or away from your computer.

If you are still using the telephone to keep in touch, save yourself the cost of calling cards and long distance calls by signing up for Skype.  This free software allows you to talk with anyone anywhere in the world, as long as they have also downloaded the free software.  If you want to call people who don’t have the program, Skype offers pay-as-you-go and monthly subscription plans.  Skype is great for businesses too because it allows you to hold conference calls with up to 25 participants at no charge.

Other Helpful Sites
Taking photos of your journey abroad is the perfect way to chronicle your experience.  Flickr allows you to upload a few pictures for free, or purchase a year of unlimited uploads for $25.  This site is particularly unique because it also has a community aspect, where you can add friends and contacts.  These individuals can see your pictures every time you upload new ones.  Privacy settings allow you to decide who gets to see your photos, whether it be anyone, only your contacts, or only you.  You can also “tag” your photos, so that anyone searching for a specific photo can locate yours.

ExpatFinder serves as search engine for everything expat-related.  You can search for information on your new country, services available for your move, or what to do once you arrive.  This is another initiative started by expatriate Sébastien Deschamps, who says, “Expats need deeper, more focused information to relocate with ease. With the unveiling of our specialized search engine, we are excited to be able to provide expats all over the world with a comprehensive and user-friendly resource.”  In addition to services, you can also search for expat blogs and discussion forums to share you experiences abroad with others.

Moving to a new country can be very nerve-racking, as you begin to wonder where you’ll find new friends, a job, or your new favorite hangouts.  But new technologies and websites can make this transition much smoother, so that you can quickly go from being the new kid on the block to a homegrown local… well, or at least the person with the most coffee dates and job interviews…

Did you know you can be a fan of companies, like Clements International on Facebook?  Click here to become a fan.  Trust us, the feeling is mutual.

Expatriate Question & Answer

Name:  Craig Gerard

Nationality:  American

Current Residence: Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Occupation: Community Liaison Officer, US Embassy Phnom Penh

Meet Michael Crossett...

Michael is the Director of Marketing and has worked for Clements for over 9 years.  He brings to Clements 11 years of marketing and graphic design experience. He is dedicated to promoting the company through traditional and online initiatives while overseeing the creative vision for the company. 

As the son of an Air Force Officer, Michael experienced growing up overseas first hand living in tropical places such as Japan, the Philippines and Hawaii.   “After spending my most of my childhood abroad,” said Michael, "I can relate to expatriates and their unique lifestyle.  I enjoy combining my own experience with the strong history Clements has within the international community to market and promote Clements.

Outside of his role at Clements, Michael concentrates his free time pursuing his artistic work through fine art and photography.  His most recent accomplishment is a digital collage that was chosen as part of the DC Arts and Humanities "Art Walk" exhibit in downtown Washington, D.C.  Michael is also finishing his studies in Graphic Design at the Corcoran School of Art and Design in Washington DC.