Beyond Small Talk, Chiang Mai

💫 Why Do Some People Instantly Click While Others Never Connect?
Thursday, July 9 | 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
📍 Spice Garden, Chiang Mai

Have you ever met someone and felt an instant connection?
The conversation flowed effortlessly. You felt comfortable, understood, and energized.
Yet with other people, despite your best efforts, the connection never seems to happen.
Why is that?
Is it chemistry? Personality? Shared values? Timing? Or is there something deeper that creates meaningful human connection?

Join us for an engaging dinner discussion as we explore the fascinating psychology behind why some relationships naturally flourish while others never move beyond small talk.
Together we'll discuss:
✨ What creates genuine chemistry between people?
✨ Why some conversations leave us feeling energized while others don't.
✨ The difference between attraction, compatibility, and emotional connection.
✨ How trust and authenticity influence relationships.
✨ Can we intentionally create deeper connections, or does it simply happen?
✨ Practical ways to become someone others naturally connect with.

This is not a lecture or a networking event. It's an opportunity to share experiences, exchange ideas, and engage in meaningful conversations with people from around the world.
Whether you're an expat, retiree, digital nomad, newcomer, traveler, or local resident, you'll find a welcoming space where curiosity, authenticity, and connection are valued.
You might arrive as strangers—but you may leave with new friendships and fresh perspectives.
🍽 Please support our wonderful host venue by ordering dinner and/or drinks during the event.

### 📍 Venue

Spice Garden, Chiang Mai

### 🕕 Time

Thursday, July 9
6:00 PM – 8:00 PM

### Hosted by Fran Li

Community builder and creator of the YouTube channel Fran's Fresh Start in Chiang Mai, Fran is passionate about bringing people together and creating spaces where meaningful friendships and authentic communities can grow.
Because sometimes one meaningful conversation is all it takes to change your life.

# 🌅 Sunday Sunset Walk & Connect

Looking to meet new people, build meaningful connections, and end your weekend on a positive note?

Join us every Sunday from 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM for a relaxing sunset walk around the beautiful grounds of Chiang Mai University (CMU).
This gathering is designed to help expats, newcomers, retirees, digital nomads, travelers, and locals connect in a genuine and authentic way. Moving to a new city can be exciting, but it can also feel isolating at times.
Creating a sense of belonging doesn't happen by accident—it happens through shared experiences, meaningful conversations, and a welcoming community.
As we walk together through the scenic CMU campus during the golden hour, you'll have the opportunity to:
• Meet interesting people from around the world
• Build new friendships and support networks
• Share experiences about life in Chiang Mai
• Have deeper conversations beyond small talk
• Feel more connected, grounded, and rejuvenated before the week begins
Whether you've been in Chiang Mai for years or just arrived last week, you'll find a friendly and inclusive space where everyone is welcome.
✨ No awkward networking.
✨ No pressure.
✨ Just authentic conversations, fresh air, movement, and community.

### Meeting Point

📍 Chiang Mai University (CMU) - Entrance

### Time

🕔 Every Sunday, 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM

### Hosted by Fran

Fran is the creator of the YouTube channel "Fran's Fresh Start in Chiang Mai" and an active community builder dedicated to helping expats, retirees, visitors, and newcomers create meaningful connections and a fulfilling life in Chiang Mai.
Come walk with us, watch the sunset, and discover that building a life in Chiang Mai is easier when you don't have to do it alone.

# WHO GETS TO BELONG?

### The Invisible Rules of Inclusion, Exclusion and Human Connection

Have you ever walked into a room and immediately felt welcome?
And have you ever been surrounded by people… yet somehow felt invisible?
What actually makes us feel like we belong?
Is belonging something other people give us—or is it something we help create?
In every community, workplace, friendship circle and social group, there are invisible rules.
Some people seem to naturally fit in.
Others stay on the outside.
Cliques form. Invitations happen. Conversations open—or close.
But how much of this is intentional?
And how often do we unconsciously exclude people simply because they are quieter, different, socially awkward, from another culture, a different age—or simply unfamiliar to us?
Join us for another thought-provoking evening of Beyond Small Talk, where we explore the psychology and human experience of belonging, inclusion and exclusion.
💬 Together we'll explore:
• What makes us feel that we truly belong?
• Why do some spaces feel welcoming while others feel closed?
• Are we sometimes excluding people without realizing it?
• Why do cliques naturally form?
• Is it the group's responsibility to include us—or our responsibility to step in?
• What makes someone naturally good at creating connection?
• Can belonging be intentionally created?
And perhaps the most important question:
What if belonging isn't something we find?
What if it's something we help create?
This will be an interactive evening of honest conversation, personal reflection and meaningful connection.
You don't need to be an expert.
You don't need to be outgoing.
You simply need to be curious—and willing to go Beyond Small Talk.
📅 Thursday, July 16
🕕 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
📍 Spice Garden, Chiang Mai
Come alone or bring a friend.
Everyone is welcome. Everyone has a voice. And perhaps… everyone has a role in helping someone else feel they belong.

📌 PLEASE NOTE
🍽️ To support the wonderful vendors at Spice Garden, there is a minimum order of 150 THB per person. Please enjoy food or drinks from the vendors during our Meetup and help us support the venue that provides us with this space.
🔒 CONFIDENTIALITY MATTERS
Beyond Small Talk is a space for honest, meaningful and sometimes personal conversations.
Everything shared in the room stays in the room.
We ask all participants to respect each other's privacy. Personal stories, experiences and conversations shared during the Meetup should not be repeated outside the group.
Our goal is to create a space where everyone can speak openly, feel safe and know that their story will be treated with respect. ❤️
See you there. ❤️

# 🌅 Sunday Sunset Walk & Connect

Looking to meet new people, build meaningful connections, and end your weekend on a positive note?

Join us every Sunday from 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM for a relaxing sunset walk around the beautiful grounds of Chiang Mai University (CMU).
This gathering is designed to help expats, newcomers, retirees, digital nomads, travelers, and locals connect in a genuine and authentic way. Moving to a new city can be exciting, but it can also feel isolating at times.
Creating a sense of belonging doesn't happen by accident—it happens through shared experiences, meaningful conversations, and a welcoming community.
As we walk together through the scenic CMU campus during the golden hour, you'll have the opportunity to:
• Meet interesting people from around the world
• Build new friendships and support networks
• Share experiences about life in Chiang Mai
• Have deeper conversations beyond small talk
• Feel more connected, grounded, and rejuvenated before the week begins
Whether you've been in Chiang Mai for years or just arrived last week, you'll find a friendly and inclusive space where everyone is welcome.
✨ No awkward networking.
✨ No pressure.
✨ Just authentic conversations, fresh air, movement, and community.

### Meeting Point

📍 Chiang Mai University (CMU) - Entrance

### Time

🕔 Every Sunday, 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM

### Hosted by Fran

Fran is the creator of the YouTube channel "Fran's Fresh Start in Chiang Mai" and an active community builder dedicated to helping expats, retirees, visitors, and newcomers create meaningful connections and a fulfilling life in Chiang Mai.
Come walk with us, watch the sunset, and discover that building a life in Chiang Mai is easier when you don't have to do it alone.