Over 15,000 expats contributed to this year’s Expat Insider survey and told us the best and worst things about the country and, more specifically, the city they live in.
To celebrate the release of our Expat City Ranking in November and to find out even more about what makes your city special for you, we launched the #GlobalLocalSpot contest on Instagram asking InterNations members to share their favorite spots in their city. From Amsterdam, Toronto, Mittenwald (Bavaria), and beyond, we received many amazing entries. But there could only be one winner!
InterNations member Sevim Cimen Gumusel submitted this amazing photo from Paris, France which was chosen as the winning picture. ‘’This photo is taken inside Galeries Lafayette,” she told us. “I love the holiday season, and the decorations always make me happy.’’
The Galeries Lafayette Christmas tree tradition dates back to 1920 when the first Christmas tree was erected for the annual employee Christmas party. The tree itself is incredible on its own, but the infamous dome and grand staircase add to the spectacle that make this tree admired the world over. Ironically, this year’s theme for the tree is travel, and this is one of the things that Cemin connects with the most. ‘’The architecture of the dome itself is already very beautiful and every December it becomes breathtaking. And since I’m passionate about travel, the details such as that red airplane made it even more special to me and made me dream about new journeys ahead. This shot is all about happiness to me.’’
Congratulations, Cemin, and thank you to everyone who participated in the contest.
Although the contest is now closed, you can still share your favorite photos of your city with us on Instagram using our everyday hashtag #GlobalLocal or browse other submissions on #GlobalLocalSpot.
Originally from Scotland, Samantha has been an expat in Munich for two years now. With a passion for all things social media, she works as the Social Media Manager at InterNations.
InterNations Changemakers Groups worldwide regularly organize cleanups, that is, they get together, roll up their sleeves, and pick up rubbish. In doing so, they bring together locals and expats alike to actively improve the environment. Three Changemakers in Duesseldorf, Istanbul, and Geneva share their experiences.
With summer in full swing in many parts of the world, InterNations communities embraced the season with rooftop gatherings, outdoor adventures, and plenty of opportunities to connect with fellow members.
Since joining the Jakarta Changemakers, Astari Sutjiningtyas has built a remarkable partnership with a local NGO and encouraged other members to teach English to underprivileged children. Here, she describes her experience with the Changemakers and gives advice for anyone wishing to get involved.
Ambassadors and Consuls are the backbone of our offline life and leaders in their communities. In April 2018, we conducted our first Happiness Survey, collecting feedback and valuable insights into their roles from our Ambassadors and Consuls around the world. Here are the results.
Amr Heikal has been a Changemakers Consul since February 2019. With his help, his group has partnered with a local NGO, Dar al Ber Society, to drill a fresh water well in Benin. In this interview, Amr offers advice to anyone wishing to get involved and tells us how he has brought about this project.
