[By NBC-1TV H. J Yook]Founded in 2007 by three friends in Munich, Germany, InterNations is known as the-way to simplify your life abroad. The aim of the expat networking community is to make living abroad easier through social integration. InterNations is multifaceted and offers networking opportunities both online and offline. Mainly, the internet platform provides expatriates with all the information they might require prior to their expatriation or upon arrival in their new environment.

Lydia moved from Chicago to the Emirates to accompany her husband, who was offered a position in hotel management. "We were both excited about it. But the experience didn't turn out as I thought. My husband worked long hours, and was often on duty on Saturdays. I took care of practical issues like looking for schools for the children, subscribing to insurances and finding telecommunication providers.

“Finding the right services was already a challenge. I, myself, had no social interaction and this affected my positive attitude. Discovering InterNations, its discussion and activity groups, changed the way I saw my new life in Abu Dhabi. I could finally talk to and meet other spouses who also started anew in the UAE. I learned a lot from our exchanges, benefited from their recommendations and could in turn pass on my knowledge to other members.”