by InTrieste
In a milestone celebration, the international community known as ‘Expats in Trieste’ marked its 7th anniversary on December 16, 2016, by launching a brand-new website tailored to cater to both incoming expatriates and visitors to the charming Italian city.
Since its inception in 2016, this vibrant international community has played a crucial role in welcoming and integrating foreigners who have chosen Trieste as their new home. Over the past 7 years, the group has become a cornerstone for expatriates, fostering a sense of belonging and camaraderie.
A signature event for the group is the weekly multicultural aperitivo, held every Thursday night at the popular Bar Tergesteo. This gathering serves as a hub for cultural exchange, networking, and forming lasting connections among members. Additionally, the community organizes regular excursions around the picturesque Friuli Venezia-Giulia region, providing expats with the opportunity to explore and appreciate the local beauty.
Highlighting the diverse experiences within the community, Expats in Trieste has grown to boast a membership exceeding 4000 individuals from various corners of the globe. In an exclusive interview series, some of these members shared their unique stories and experiences, shedding light on what draws them to Trieste and how they’ve embraced life in this captivating city.
As Expats in Trieste enters its 8th year, the launch of the new website www.expating.it symbolizes a commitment to enhancing the expatriate experience in the region. The platform aims to serve as a comprehensive resource for both newcomers and seasoned residents, offering valuable information, event updates, and a virtual space for fostering connections within the thriving international community. Whether one is a recent transplant or a curious visitor, the Expats in Trieste website is poised to be a go-to destination for navigating the enriching journey of life in this picturesque Italian city.
The group counts more than 4000 members from around the globe and we’ve interviewed some of them to see what they’re up to here in Trieste.
“It has been quite a ride”, says the co-founder Maria Kochetkova. “We started the expat group as a joke, sort of. When I moved here six years ago, I didn’t know anyone so I opened our Facebook group which later turned into a helpful, engaging, multicultural community that now counts more than 3000 members from around the globe. And we also have an Instagram account where I share with everyone my musings about Trieste.”
“For the past two years we’ve been working on turning our expat group, with the help of our region, into a start up,” ads Francesco Stumpo, co-creator of the group. “We have been a so-called bridge between the world and Trieste for six years now and we are now the official reference for all foreigners coming to live in Trieste. We are offering services of getting settled, finding housing, language courses – basically everything we’ve been doing for the past six years, but this time it is official. We of course have a team of specialists, who will help expats out with things we can’t, like immigration questions. We are excited to be launching our updated website this winter – www.expating.it – which will help the incoming expats to settle down and make Trieste their home. We are continuously expanding our network of partners – from real estate agents, to local business which will help expats feel at home. We’ve launched the “Expat Club Card” in the spring, which is meant to connect the city to the international world. Every business in town that has the sticker of the “Expats Card” speaks English, is welcoming and excited to have foreign customers. We organize many cultural events, we host a weekly multicultural aperitivo on Thursday nights and we work hard to make sure our community blossoms. We hope our community continues to grow, and with it the celebrating of diversity in our town and region.”
“We’ll be celebrating with a bash this Saturday with cake and candles. We are an international community, yes, but we are open to everyone and every Thursday we meet many locals and Italians who want to be part of our community. It’s fantastic!”
