We strongly believe that we have to do our part as well. That’s why we at InterNations have decided to cancel all in-person official events and activities scheduled in our communities around the world until 15 May. Events planned for the rest of May or later will be put on hold for now. We understand that this might seem like a drastic measure, but our biggest priority these days is to protect our members and keep our communities and those around us safe by practicing social distancing, even if it is difficult.
While we can’t completely stop it, many health authorities believe that social distancing will help slow down the rate of infection, which will also help avoid overwhelming the health-care system. So even if you are feeling fine, social distancing is essential for the welfare of others, so you can protect the sick, elderly, or immunocompromised members of your community. It’s really about compassion for those around you.
“Self-quarantining” — the extreme form of social distancing — is important to do if you’re not feeling well, if you’ve been in contact with anyone who has tested positive for Coronavirus, or if you have recently traveled to a region with a known outbreak.
For more information on how effective social distancing is, check out these helpful websites:
It’s helpful to imagine that anyone you come into contact in with is your elderly grandmother whose health you want to protect. So, try to stay at home as much as you can. Basically, the more you can avoid contact with other people the better! And when you do go out, don’t forget to wash your hands before and after you leave your house. Here are a few changes you can make:
For expats, being isolated at home can be especially lonely and frustrating. At InterNations, we are committed to continue bringing international people together — even if it is just virtually for now. While the current situation prevents you from meeting each other face-to-face, we still offer many ways for you to connect, get answers to your questions, and share experiences:
Taking all these actions will help curb the spread of this virus, protecting your community, while also helping you to avoid boredom at home — win win!
No matter how you spend the holidays abroad, decide to travel, or go home to be with your family, this time of the year can be tough for expats. In a Twitter contest, we asked our members to share their advice on how to make the best of it. Picking the final three was a real challenge!
The year is drawing to a close and November’s arrival unofficially marks the start of the holiday season. With Diwali and Thanksgiving festivities both filling this month’s calendar, InterNations members around the world have been getting together, celebrating traditions old and new!
We celebrate eleven years of InterNations with official events and activities taking place across the world, from Munich to Sydney, our members have been meeting, mingling, and hitting the dancefloor. So, here’s to you and another eleven years of fun, laughter, and fantastic events!
InterNations has three million members around the world. While the number itself is impressive, it’s not always about how many people you can connect with, but rather the individual relationships themselves. Tell us about your “one in three million” InterNations friend and why they are so special!
Over the last months, we have seen some great activities hosted by Consuls all over the world, bringing their group to another community and giving their members a truly international experience. We asked two of them to tell us about the travelling adventures they recently shared with their groups.