ST E P 7 Building a Social Life

S T E P 7 B U I L D I N G A S O C I A L L I F E

Moving to a new city can be lonely, especially in

the beginning. So stay connected! Through our

Internships in the Valley network, you can meet

students just like you. Look out for our get-

togethers and drinks, so you can share your experiences and bond with your fellow interns.

Let’ s turn Silicon Valley orange!

SOCIAL EVENTS

International Mixers

Next to your direct network of fellow Dutch interns, there are other ways to connect in Silicon Valley. Look for other international communities, such as SFSU’s IEEC, and see if there are any open events to meet other students! The website Meetup is another option, where you can join groups meant for internationals working in the Bay Area. They organize beer pong nights, dinners and much more.

To find other Dutchies, join Facebook’s SF Dutch page. Another great way to meet Dutch expats is to attend one of the celebrations held by the Dutch Consulate General in SF every year, such as Flower Bulb Day (in March) or King’s Day (April 27). For more information, follow the Dutch Consul General of SF on Twitter – @NLinSF – keeping you up to date on all things Dutch in San Francisco.

Get Your Dutch On New Kid on the Block

Unlike the Dutch ‘doe maar normaal, dan doe je al gek genoeg’ culture, its American counterpart is exceptionally and almost excessively welcoming. Housemates are therefore a great way to explore the city and extend your network! Ask for recommendations, and make connections through your newfound friends! Enthusiasm is guaranteed.

Network, Network, Network

Silicon Valley is all about networking. Americans are naturally enthusiastic and always in for a drink or a meetup, so meeting new people is easy! Don’t be afraid to socialize with your colleagues outside of work, and definitely join them at mixers and networking events. Put your Linkedin to good use to grow your professional network in no time!