New Member, Global Perspective: My Journey Through International Cooperation

I’m Gian Piero, and for nearly two decades now, I’ve been knee-deep in the fascinating world of international cooperation. Since 2004, I’ve found myself implementing psycho-social projects in some pretty remarkable places—from the bustling cities of Eastern Europe to remote villages in Asia and Africa. Let me tell you, this journey has completely transformed how I see the world and understand what it means to truly live between cultures.

The Reality of Cultural Shock

You know that feeling when you step off a plane in a completely foreign country? That mix of excitement and sheer terror? Well, my colleague and I became so fascinated by this universal expat experience that we decided to put pen to paper. We created a booklet called ‘Espatriati’ (Expatriates), diving deep into that exact moment when Western folks like us first set foot in non-Western countries. Trust me, the impact can knock you sideways—sometimes it’s frustrating enough to make you question why you ever left home! But here’s the thing: once you understand what’s happening from a psychological and sociological angle, it becomes so much easier to ride those waves rather than drown in them.

Building Global Connections

The people I’ve met along the way? Absolutely incredible. I’m talking about flight attendants who don’t just serve drinks at 30,000 feet—they’re cultural anthropologists in disguise, using their layovers to dive deep into local life. Then there are the oil and gas engineers I’ve befriended, building careers (and lives) in the most unexpected corners of the world. Everyone’s got their own unique story about why they took the leap.

• My regular trips to Eastern Europe have been like watching history unfold in fast-forward—these post-Soviet societies are transforming at breakneck speed
• Southeast Asian hubs like Singapore and Malaysia? They’ve mastered this incredible dance between honoring ancient traditions and embracing cutting-edge innovation
• And Istanbul—oh, Istanbul! I’ve lost count of my visits there. If you want to see what it looks like when East literally meets West, this is your classroom

The Importance of Community

Here’s something that never fails to amaze me: no matter where we come from or what brought us abroad, expats everywhere crave the same things. We want to practice that language we’ve been struggling with, discover hidden gems in our adopted cities, and most importantly, forge genuine connections with people whose life stories are nothing like our own. Whether you’re piloting planes, building bridges, or doing development work like me, we’re all searching for that magical moment when a stranger becomes a friend across cultural lines.

I’m actually in the process of translating our booklet into English—it’s about time more people had access to these insights! The psychological and sociological patterns we’ve uncovered could be game-changers for anyone contemplating or navigating life abroad. After all these years of living between worlds, I’ve learned that while our passports might be different colors and our mother tongues might sound nothing alike, the hopes, fears, and dreams we carry? They’re remarkably, beautifully similar.