By Micol Brusaferro
Expats in Trieste counts more than 2000 members – a community of individuals from around the globe that have recently moved to Trieste. The group that was spontaneously formed in 2016 is celebrating four years on 14 December. There are quite a few retired folks among the group members who bought their houses here in Trieste.
There are expats who fell in love with Trieste during their holidays in Friuli Venezia Giulia. Others fell in love with Trieste by looking at the photographs on social media, and some got introduced to our city thanks to their friends. However, expats have one thing in common- all are helplessly in love with this territory.
“We started getting together on December 14th four years ago”, remembers the founder Maria Kochetkova, “and at that time there were only four of us. A few months later some hundred people joined us and eventually we became a real community.”
Expats get together often to discover the beauty of Friuli Venezia Giulia’s territory. Together they have discovered the osmize, took part in Barcolana and other sporting events around town. Expats help each other out with useful advice, especially for those who don’t speak Italian well yet.
Every Thursday night at 7 pm they get together for an aperitivo at Caffè San Marco. There expats speak English only as members come from different continents. Many are from Europe, but also from Japan, United States, South America, China and Australia.
“Just the other day I met two new expats,” says Maria, “a husband and wife from Australia- who bought a villa in the center of Trieste which they will renovate to live here. But there are many of us and we all come from different cultural backgrounds. We celebrate diversity and love our new hometown. Trieste is a city of incredible beauty. If you come here once – you are bound to return many times again, and in our case – move here.”
Last year expats celebrated their anniversary at Antico Caffè San Marco with a big party, but this year is a little different and the celebration will take online. “We invite everyone to take part in the Let’s Chat and Coffee initiative to make local friends and celebrate diversity!”
