Last week I visited Milan, the city of fashion in Italy. Milan is hosting EXPO this year, but the goal of my journey was different. A few weeks before I received a message from my best friend in Poland, in which she was telling me about her trip to Milan and asking me if we can meet. It was a great opportunity as me and my partner were planning to visit Switzerland, so why do not stop in Milan for a day or two and catch up with the old friend.
We agreed on the date, exchanged a few messages and everything was set up. I was excited and looking forward to our meeting. Although I am regularly visiting my home country I didn’t have a chance to meet with my friend for a long time as she is living in a different city and we were both busy with our daily tasks.
There is this strange feeling when you are going to meet someone you didn’t see for a while, a mixture of excitement, happiness, curiosity and nervousness because you don’t know how the conversation is going to start, what we are going to tell each other and how we are going to reconnect after all that time.
We all change in some way and change can be scary. With a head full of thoughts and a smile on my face, I jumped on the train to Milan and at that moment I decided to focus on 3 steps to reconnect with my friend and make this experience easy and enriching for both of us.
1. Be open-minded. Clear your mind of any potential expectation. Keep your mind open. People at your home country, friends or family change and you change as well, especially when you are living abroad. You can see everything from a different perspective. Do not expect that friends, some of them may have never lived abroad, will understand your steps, actions, changes in your personal or professional life. Remember you are the one who has moved.
2. Be curious, listen and ask questions. It can come naturally to ask questions and show your curiosity. However ask deep questions to understand the changes your friend has gone through, talk about the old times and show your interest in his/her future projects. Listen carefully to the other person. Tell about your challenges, share your story, your adventures and some funny stories. Your interests, opinions, views may change so listen carefully, be true you and accept your new/old friend as she or he is.
3. Enjoy yourself. Most importantly enjoy yourself. I met my friend in Milan so it was a great opportunity for us to explore the city, eat the delicious Italian food while catching up. It is a very precious time to meet with an old friend as you are also reconnecting with yourself, your roots and background. It can be emotional and funny in the same way.
These are 3 simple steps to reconnect with a long-term friend. I had a great time and we set up our next reunion in one month’s time, this time at home.
Now I want to hear from you! What are your best tips to reconnect with friends from your home country? What are/were your challenges when you return to your home to meet your family or friends?
Did you like this post? If yes please leave your comment or share it with your friends. Would you like to receive more inspirational posts from DM Coaching Blog and tips which I am sharing only via email? Subscribe to DM Coaching Weekly Career Makeover Guide. Click here!
Currently, she is enjoying a laptop lifestyle while travelling across Europe.
- Mindfulness for Expats: How It Can Support You Through Change - 5 czerwca 2025
- Where Are You Giving Your Power Away? - 19 lutego 2025
- Cross-Cultural Competence for Global Success - 23 października 2024
