For example, moving around in my own country (UK) I’ve found it difficult to settle, lay roots and build a solid social bubble. I think a factor is that people are usually in well established families and social bubbles by this age (mid 30s).
Another factor specific to the UK is that friends/family are usually fairly commutable wherever you are. I imagine this is different with the US, in that if you move state you are fairly isolated, and so there’s more emphasis for building new social foundations perhaps?
I wonder if it’s like this as an expat? You are, along with most other expats, having to build a new. Doesn’t this lend itself to an easier social building experience? Well, with other fellow expats at least. I guess building it with locals is another challenge completely.
Or am I being naive? Is it just as difficult to “gain entry” into such communities? Again, I guess it varies on location, but I’d be interested to hear your experience.
It’s harder to click immediately and find common ground, and it’s harder to feel like you belong, but it’s also easier to build a social group over time because nobody has any preconceptions about you based on the type of person you are, they see you as a set of stereotypes maybe but besides that they have to get to know you as you are.
Back home based on accent, clothing style, energy, hometown, people can have a wide and deep set of preconceptions, and can sunconsciously dislike you for a variety of reasons around that, along with not needing friends because they already have some, and family, and a sense of community.