- Brian Norris
When first moving to Washington, D.C., I didn't know many people outside of the office. InterNations has changed that with some exciting events.
Living in Elgin
Elgin, a small city of some 110,000 people not far from Chicago, happily calls itself ‘The City in the Suburbs’. The city’s suburban feel looks set to change though, as it is one of the fastest growing cities in the United States. Expatriates living in Elgin have a charming city with a small-town feel to enjoy for the time being, though. In fact, European expats in Elgin could mistake parts of the city’s downtown area for England, as the city is well known for its elegant Victorian architecture. The budding local community has plenty of culture to its name as well – the Elgin Art Showcase and the Elgin Historical Society and Museum are particularly worth a visit, and expats living in Elgin with a penchant for nature can enjoy two protected nature reserves, the Trout Park and Bluff Spring Fen reserves, which are popular with residents and expatriates in Elgin alike.
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Attend our monthly events and activities for Elgin expatriates to get to know like-minded expatriates in real life.
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Moving to Elgin
The relatively small city is surprisingly well served by train and bus links, especially to the nearby city of Chicago. Expatriates moving to Elgin will probably arrive via this city, as the Chicago O'Hare International Airport serves numerous international locations as well as every major US city. Our InterNations website has plenty more general information on expatriation in the Expat Magazine, our online comprehensive collection of articles on a range of topics from expat finance and insurance to living abroad. As this is a small, comfortable city with a high standard of living, expats moving to Elgin generally shouldn’t feel too much stress or cultural shock. Nevertheless, you can get a taste of the ups and downs of expatriation from our collection of articles written by other InterNations members, which are also accessible on our website. Whilst this small American city is well connected and welcoming, InterNations members have our content and discussion groups as a fall back for advice, if needed, too.
Working in Elgin
The city’s proximity to Chicago means that a significant percentage of the population commute to the suburban city’s big neighbor. This has its advantages, giving expats in Elgin a feeling of space and peace, and providing the city a feeling of calm and recreation. The local economy is growing, though, and expats working in Elgin will notice a number of new flourishing businesses. To get the most out of working in Elgin, expatriates can also contact other global minds and Elgin’s international community though the InterNations website. Our discussion groups, forums and private communications are the easiest way to make contact, whether you’d like to organize a meet-up or simply pick up extra tips for things to do in the city. The international community is growing, and nearby Chicago also has a sizeable expat population, so expatriates moving to Elgin can expect to find a busy international network waiting for them.