So Where Are You From?

I like to network and meet new people, make contacts with fellow entrepreneurs, expats and local people.

As I’ve mentioned in some previous posts, networking is a great tool to grow your business.

During those networking meetings many people ask you the same three questions:

Where are you from?
How long have you been living here?
How long are you going to stay here?

I have to admit that sometimes I find those questions boring and irritating. Probably because I am a long term expat now or I do not consider myself expat anymore.

I think of myself as a globetrotter, a digital nomad… I love the laptop lifestyle.

I am Polish, and this is my true identity and I am always connected to my homeland.

I’ve lived abroad for many years and I know that my Polish nature is influenced by Italian and English culture. That’s a beauty of being an expat. I speak to myself in three languages and I read books in those languages.

Sometimes I find it hard to answer the question How long have you been living in Italy? that’s because this is my second experience here. I lived in the UK for five years and then I and my partner moved back to Rome.

So I asked myself why this question was so hard for me to answer and then I came up with a simple answer: This is my second time in Italy. I lived here before for my studies and work and now I am here to enjoy my laptop lifestyle. Simple and inspiring, I think.

And when people ask me How long are you going to stay here? I say: until I like and enjoy it.

I have nothing against those three questions. They are great to start the conversation and I asked them, too. But I know that they can be boring for many people.

If you find yourself irritated by those questions when attending the networking event or meeting new people I advise you to ask yourself why and before the next networking meeting think about your answers. Write them down. How do they feel, sound to you?

I know that it can be even more complicated when you have lived in 4,5 or even 10 countries. Come up with the answer which sounds true to you.

Maybe you do not feel expat anymore? Maybe you feel a globetrotter like me? You choose to live in a country, not for a work purpose but because you like to live here. It is your lifestyle.

Enjoy your nomadic, expat, international life! Get the best of it! Go and explore different countries, places and cities and share your experience with others. You can inspire them to do the same.

Your true calling can be a country, a city, not a specific type of career. And you can create your life in your dream city. Think about How? Go and explore.

I love Rome but I know that other cities are calling me and in 2017 I will move again!

Did you like this post? If yes please leave your comment or share it with your friends. Need clarity? Get your FREE 3 day e – career coaching programme and clarify your career goals in 3 days. Start your career change today! Clarify your career goals and elaborate your action plan to achieve them. Click here!

About
Latest Posts

Dominika Miernik

Dominika Miernik is an award-winning Career and Expat Coach with over 20 years of living and working abroad in countries like Poland, Italy, the UK and France. Over the past 10+ years, she has been helping expat and globally mobile women to create fulfilling careers and businesses around their international lives. She works with individuals and expat support organisations. And is a mentor for expat coaches.
Currently, she is enjoying a laptop lifestyle while travelling across Europe.

Latest posts by Dominika Miernik (see all)