Whiney Expat Blogger Meetup 2009

It's never too early to start thinking about the next meetup!

I didn't make it last year due to geographical constraints but I can tell you the Dresden meetup of 2007 was a lot of fun!!

For those who have their doubts, I know meeting people who you only know through the internet and blogging may seem like a strange concept. However, you are in good hands with this group and I hope I am in the right country at the time to make it myself this year.

Consider how many people out there understand the situation we are in on a day to day basis. Probably most the people from your pre-expat life have no clue about the joys and sorrows, amusement and frustration that you go through living amongst and with the Others. Whether you are perfectly integrated or still finding it hard to remember to bag your own groceries with your own bag, there is something great about getting together with people who share this common bond with you and who understand without words what your typical day and range of emotions are like. I can promise there will be words though, lots of them! And laughs too!

So what is it like to meet whiney expats in person the first time? Normally when you meet people you get an impression and make judgements of them based on their outward appearance and then over time get to know what's inside. The most surprising thing to me at my first (and so far only) meetup was that the process works in reverse. You have an understanding of a person that is quite personal, depending of course on what they share on their blog, and then after this 'relationship' of weeks, months or years, you finally see them in person. No one was as I pictured or heard them in my imagination. I still giggle whenever I remember J exclaiming, 'I thought you would be a blond!' Let's not try to sort out if there is an insult in there or not ;-)

For now it is all about the location. Register here and cast your vote! Later the date will be decided.

So finally I leave you with some write-ups of past meetups from others who lived through the experience to encourage you to give it a shot if you are on the fence...

2005 Marburg
2005 Marburg
2006 Bonn
2006 Bonn
2007 Dresden
2007 Dresden
2007 Dresden
2008 Bremen
2008 Bremen
2008 Bremen
2008 Bremen

Posted from Cherry Hill, NJ