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FrenchWBSD: 5 Ways Food Can Boost Your Expat Social Life
Posted on 13. Jun, 2009 by Emmanuelle Archer in Blog, Musings & Inspiration, Tools & Resources
17 comments
Hurray! World Blog Surf Day is here! Many thanks to our lovely organiser, Sher of Czech Off The Beaten Path.
World Blog Surf Day is an online event that connects expat bloggers from around the world. This time around, the theme is food, an inspiring topic if there ever was one!
Photo credit: NASA, Public Domain
If this is your first time here, hi! My name is Emmanuelle and I will be your waitress tonight,… er, no, sorry. Getting carried away with the food theme here – and it’s only the first paragraph! I can tell this is going to be interesting.
I am a French expat currently living in beautiful Vancouver, BC, in Western Canada. This blog is all about helpful tips and resources to help expats and accompanying partners thrive in their life abroad.
In this spirit, and because my motto might as well be, “Give me practical tips or give me death!”, I give you:
5 ways food can boost your expat social life
1. Use food-related events to meet people
Isolation, loneliness and missing friends and family are major issues for expats. Meeting people is high on the priority list. Looking back at my first few years in Canada, I met a lot of my local friends through food-related events.
If you live in a big city, why not join an expat network like InterNations that organises monthly dinners?
Or if you’re really into food, you can join a foodie message board like eGullet.com. It won’t be long before someone suggests a get-together for forum members. Over the years, I have met a number of warm, quirky, friendly food geeks that way.
Do you have a favourite coffee shop or lunch spot? Go there often. It becomes easier to engage people in conversation once you become a regular.
Do any nearby shops or restaurants offer tasting events? Is there a local market you can go to?
The idea is to be around people as often as possible. You will feel less isolated, and you will improve your odds of meeting people who could become friends.
2. Use food to break the ice
The great thing about food-related events is that it’s so easy to break the ice. There is something very convivial about food, so no one will think you’re weird if you make a comment about the dish you’re eating or if you talk to complete strangers.
Besides, everyone has an opinion about food. What they like and dislike. What a dish reminds them of. Childhood stories and the dishes their mother used to make. Show some interest, start asking a few questions, and you can keep the conversation rolling for a long time, without awkward silences.
3. Use food to nurture friendships
Having guests over for dinner is a wonderful way to deepen and nurture your new friendships. By opening your home to your new friends, you are showing your hospitality, trust and love. Spending several hours together will allow you to have deeper conversations and learn about each other.
Entertaining people at your place doesn’t have to be an elaborate affair. During my first year in Canada, funds were tight and my rental kitchen was the size of a postage stamp. I didn’t have any fancy equipment. However, I did have a frying pan, milk, flour and eggs – so I threw a crepe party. Don’t get intimidated and think you have to provide a three-course catered meal. Your friends are coming for the company, not for the food.
4. Use food to ward off homesickness
Whipping up a batch of your favourite comfort food goes a long way in keeping homesickness at bay.
Comfort foods are usually fairly basic and do not require fancy ingredients, so chances are you’ll be able to prepare them anywhere in the world.
Cooking something typical of your home country may help you reconnect with your culture and your heritage – always a good thing when you have the expat blues and you’re feeling disconnected from your roots.
And in case the necessary ingredients are not available, get creative! Substitute, tweak, experiment and come up with your own recipe. What a great metaphor for the new identity you are building day after day as an expat!
5. Use food as an incentive to explore
Go to the night market. Go to the farmers’ market. Go visit a pineapple plantation. Enjoy a beer tasting at a microbrewery. Venture into a part of town you don’t usually go to and look for interesting food shops.
Ask questions. Engage people in conversation. Expand your comfort zone. Become more familiar with your new city.
There are no limits to how far a healthy curiosity about food can take you.
Bon appétit! Enjoy!
If you found this interesting, you can subscribe to this blog by clicking the RSS icon at the top of this page. I publish new expat tips and stories three times a week – right now, we’re in the middle of International Relocation month.
The next blogger on the WBSD chain is *lynne* of A Malaysian Abroad, who is doing a 2-part post (complete with firsthand investigation!) about Chicago’s farmers’ markets. Thank you very much for stopping by!
If like me you love Twitter (I am @emmanuelle_a), you may want to follow World Blog Surf Day over there as well.
This time we have an official Twitter Reporter, Anastasia Ashman (@Thandelike). She is an American cultural producer based in Istanbul, and is a creator of Expat Harem, the anthology by foreign women about modern Turkey. Her Tweetstream focuses on women, travel and history, and she shares resources for writers/travelers, expats, Turkophiles and culturati of all stripes.
Images by (top to bottom) LocalThaiFood, LifeinItaly, massdistraction, Kevin H. and Jaime.Silva, all via Flickr Creative Commons
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About Emmanuelle Archer
Hi, I am Emmanuelle.
A French expat currently living in Vancouver, BC, I am the president of Winning Away Ltd., an expat support and coaching company.
I started this blog in 2008 to help expatriates make the most of their life abroad.
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Very nice twist on the Food theme. I was refreshed after reading your blog post. Food isn’t just an end to itself, not only a necessity, not just for the enjoyment of the dining moment, but as a way to connect. Italians, and the French, know this so well!!! I’m still learning.
Bev
Comment by Romancing Italy — June 13, 2009 @ 10:06 am
Hi Emmanuelle,
This is great advice! I could have used this kind of advice when I made the big move!! There is something universal about food–we all need it and find comfort in it. So, what better way to integrate into a new culture!
Have a great day,
Sher :0)
Comment by Sher — June 13, 2009 @ 2:06 pm
That’s some great advice. I wish I knew twelve years ago) Come to think of it, I did find a Czech restaurant here and met lot of people there. And ate some Czech food, too ;o)
Comment by Ivanhoe — June 13, 2009 @ 3:06 pm
Meow! That are great tips for humans. I don’t go out, so it would be a bit difficult for me to follow them! But I will show Mommy the one about ‘4. Use food to ward off homesickness’ I really do miss fresh, tasty field mice, perhaps she can get me some?
Oscar, the Expat Cat
Comment by Oscar — June 13, 2009 @ 3:07 pm
@ Bev: If your blog is any indication, it looks like you have a genuine appreciation for good food, which is a very handy thing to have in common with the Italians!
I know what you’re saying, though – moving to a new country often means redefining our relationship with food. In the beginning, I had a hard time adjusting to my 30-minute lunch breaks, because to me lunch was not about fueling up – it was a time to relax, read a book or share a conversation with a coworker. Needless to say, I have since learned to eat much faster than I did back in France…
@ Sher: Exactly! I find food and language to be two key areas to understanding a foreign culture. And food takes less time and effort than language to learn, so I would nominate it for Best Shortcut to Integrating Quickly.
@ Ivanhoe: Restaurants and food shops that stock foreign foods are great places to connect with fellow expats. Your post made me smile when I read it because like you, it is the bread and other baked goods that I miss the most. Thankfully we have some really good bakeries here, but what wouldn’t I give for a proper pain au chocolat!
Comment by Emmanuelle Archer — June 13, 2009 @ 11:06 pm
@ Oscar: Meow! This is Ishtar, Emmanuelle’s tabby cat. I am very glad to meet a fellow expat cat – I do not know any around here, but that might well be because I don’t go out either.
I must say I admire you for adjusting so well to being an indoor cat after having had a garden. Now that’s adaptability! As for me I have always been indoors so the transition was easy. Actually, I much prefer Vancouver to Paris because there are all sorts of birds, squirrels and raccoons to look at!
Regarding homesickness and missing fresh mice – by all means show this article to your mom! Training your humans properly does take time, but it is all worth it in the end. Speaking of which, what’s taking Emmanuelle so long with my food? I am going to be late for my afternoon nap!
Sorry, I have to go – must go sit by my bowl and meow pitifully – but it was a pleasure talking to you. I hope we’ll stay in touch!
Ishtar
Comment by Emmanuelle Archer — June 14, 2009 @ 12:36 am
Whenever I’m feeling homesick in Salta, I read your site for ways to cope. And as usual, your expat advice is spot on.
I have yet to explore the markets in Salta. I will do that in preparation for a dinner, because I’ll make sure to invite people over.
Always a pleasure, Emmanuelle.
Comment by Leigh — June 14, 2009 @ 4:06 am
There’s one you missed-use food to communicate when you don’t know the language! My future mother-in-law only began to approve of me after I ate her food!
Great advice!
Comment by Yazar — June 14, 2009 @ 7:06 am
Him Enmanuelle
You can also use food to chase people away or punish them, here a real story.))!
Once my aunt come over back to her country of birth, the Netherlands. And she was bragging all the time about Australia, her new home. Everything there was bigger, better, larger etc.
So when my mother asked me to cook I said yes, and made a special Indonesian diner, since my Aunt told me that the best Indonesian food is in Australia.
I cooked a huge amout of Indonesian food, and made several ‘parts extra-extra-extra-extra-extra-extra-extra-extra-extra S P I C Y.
So when the table was ready, I served and told everyone that there was some special-for-aunt made food…so she got some dishes next to her plate. As everyone started eating and enjoying, my aunt became a little red and told me, ‘this is delicious Hans, but a little spicy’. I told her to try the other dish next to her plate…
After 15 minutes she looked at me, sweating a little around her already RED face and asked ‘where did you get this recipe’. I told her, from a friend! And she looked around and everybody was normal eating her food…(they all eat the ‘normal spicy made’ Indonesian dishes. And they enjoyed it very much. After 30 minutes she said, water was roling over her PURPLE RED face, ‘why I am the only who has problems with this delicious spicy food?’ Everybody was looking (and they already know what I did) ‘because you are so long away from your home country, this how we cook these day..))
You understand that she never wanted to come over for diner at my parents their house when I was there..)
Kindest
hans
Comment by Hans — June 14, 2009 @ 7:07 am
@ Leigh: Thank you so much for your lovely comment, I really appreciate it. If this blog can reach even just one expat a day and make life just a tiny bit easier for them, then it’s all worth it.
Have fun exploring the markets! I love them, no matter what country they are in. There’s always something entertaining and interesting going on – some vendors can be real characters, too! Hope you will have a wonderful dinner party – let us know what you prepared and how it went!
@ Yazar: Very good point! You’re absolutely right, food can be a powerful way to communicate, to show acceptance and be accepted. I am glad to know that food was the way to your future mother-in-law’s heart, even if it sounds like it took some time, and probably quite a bit of patience on your part.
@ Hans: Oh my, that is hilarious! You sound like you have quite a sense of humour – but I’ll be careful not to get on your bad side, because who knows what other pranks you have in store!!! That’s a wonderful story, though. Bedankt!
Emmanuelle
Comment by Emmanuelle Archer — June 14, 2009 @ 8:06 am
Some very good ideas given here. This post is unique in the world blog tour, well thougth out!
Comment by Martin In Bulgaria — June 14, 2009 @ 8:07 am
Thank you very much Martin. Sometimes you need a little palate cleanser, what with all that deliciously rich food we’ve been having during World Blog Surf Day!
Have a great Sunday,
Emmanuelle
Comment by Emmanuelle Archer — June 14, 2009 @ 8:08 am
Emmanuelle,
Of course I’ve a bad side: food poisoning…active member of the club.)) Therefore I married on the age of 45 for the first (and last.) time I guess..)) Some women disappeared before to often…
Just saw that you follow Helianthes (thats me) on twitter…guess who from which country gave me that nick name…
Next time: 5 ways to improve your Love Life with Food, that’s a good French topic or not.)!
Kindest
hans
Comment by Hans — June 14, 2009 @ 5:00 pm
@ Ishtar: Meow! What a lovely, lovely name! Yes, we should stay in contact, I keep nagging and begging Mommy to give me an own blog. When she finally does it -training humans to do what you want takes up sooo much time- I invite you over, deal?
Wow, I couldn’t imagine to be an indoor-cat-since-ever, it is ok now, but I like my memories of the garden…
Hope you got your food in time, food is INCREDIBLY important, Oscar
Comment by Oscar — June 14, 2009 @ 6:00 pm
Very very good advices! I wish I blogged before we moved to Singapore.
You should really try out those Singaporean restaurants, if you love spicy food, try the Chili Crab.
Comment by Jade — June 15, 2009 @ 4:00 am
@ Hans: I’ll consider myself warned! And you’re absolutely right, I suppose that at some point, being French, I must write about l’amour, toujours l’amour! Hey, maybe that’ll be the next WBSD theme!
@ Oscar: Ishtar is having her daily 11-hour nap right now, so she asked me to congratulate you on her behalf for getting your own Twitter account (we’re following you, of course) and your blog! And I would like to reassure you that yes, her food made it to her bowl in time, so no cat was harmed – or even inconvenienced – in the making of our earlier comments.
@ Jade: I *love* spicy food and I love seafood. Chili crab? Oh my, that sounds heavenly! Thanks for the recommendation!
Comment by Emmanuelle Archer — June 16, 2009 @ 4:00 am
[...] you’ve been following this blog for a while, you may remember that the theme last time was food – an inspiring subject if there ever was one! I don’t know what was most enjoyable: [...]
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