Kyoto Expats Support Group

Abroad in Kyoto Support Group ⛩️ A safe space to talk about living in Japan!

Thu, Apr 23 · 6:30 PM JST

Cafe Neighbors, 47-5 Mibubojocho, Nakagyo Ward, Kyoto, 604-8804, Japan,, Kyoto, JP

📋 For Anonymous participation [HERE]

Living abroad is not easy. That's why I wanted to create a space where we can listen, share and support one another! This is a safe place for you to get anything you want off your chest 😮‍💨

For first timers : please read the group statement below🙏

📢 [Session Information]

1️⃣ The session will be divided into 2 periods

1. first one hour is for the group session
2. 30 minutes of free chat and meeting people
   ※ During the 2nd period you can ask for a private conversation/consultantation please book in advance by massaging me 🙂‍↕️

2️⃣ This event is targeted only towards foreigners living in Japan and will be conducted in English!

※日本語の方が良いの外国の方は[Additional information]を確認くだい！👇
※ For examples of the topics please check the [Additional information] section 👇

3️⃣ Event fee: No fee just order a drink from the cafe (400 yen~)
※If you can't afford to pay please let me know by massaging me!

⚠️ [Group statement and mission]

TLDR; A support group for expats is a community of people living outside their home countries who meet to share advice and emotional support regarding the unique challenges of life abroad. It provides a vital space for members to navigate cultural adjustment together.

1️⃣ The Core Purpose of the Group
​The primary goal of a support group is to provide a safe space where individuals facing similar life transitions can find:

***​Validation: Realizing that your struggles with culture shock, language barriers, or isolation are shared by others.
*** ​Empowerment: Moving from a feeling of "surviving" to "thriving" by sharing resources and coping strategies.
*​Safe Expression: A place to vent frustrations about life here or home-sickness without judgment.

2️⃣ ​Guidelines for a Successful Expat Support Group

​To ensure the group remains a healthy environment, the following* "Ground Rules" *are essential:

• ​Confidentiality: What is shared in the group stays in the group.
  *** ​The "I" Statement Rule: Participants should speak from their own experience (e.g., "I felt overwhelmed when I first arrived") rather than giving unsolicited advice or speaking in generalizations.
  *** ​No Fixing: The group is for support, not therapy. The goal is to listen and witness each other's journeys, not to "solve" everyone's problems immediately.
  *​Shared Responsibility: While I will have the role of the facilitator, the success of the group depends on everyone’s active listening and participation.

3️⃣ ​Participate at Your Own Pace

​support group attendees generally fall into three dynamic roles. Understanding these can help you feel less pressured. Sometimes it's enough to just simply show up:

1. ​The Observer: This role is for those who are not yet ready to speak or share. You can simply sit, listen, and take in the environment. If it's your first time you might feel like just want to see how the group works before opening up. There is no requirement to speak until you feel safe.
2. The Participant: This is the core role where you talk about your current situation or a specific struggle.You share your personal story, your current "lows," or a specific problem you are facing. This might mean talking about the difficulty of making local friends, the frustration of a visa process, or feeling isolated during a local holiday. It is about being heard and validated by others in the same boat.
3. The Peer Mentor: As you stay with the group longer, you naturally shift into this role. You share how you overcame a past struggle or provide a perspective that helps someone else. This role is for a "seasoned" expat who has lived in the country for years. You can still share when feel like it.

🙋 [Additional Information]

1️⃣ About me
Hi 👋
I'm Umar, I have lived in Japan for over 9 years both as a student and an employee.
I started this group because I saw many people struggling with life in Japan and I felt there's no place for those people to just let go of the belt up feelings. I hope this space that I created could help people listen, share and think about thier feelings in a way that would reflect positively on their lives🍃

2️⃣ 日本語について
日本に住んでいる外国人で日本語で相談欲しい方は事前にMeetupのメッセージで連絡くだい💬

3️⃣ Examples of Discussion Topics
These are just examples and the actual topics are what you (members) are feeling the need to talk about at the time!

1. Navigating Culture & Identity

• ​The "Identity Gap": Who am I when I’m no longer defined by my job or social status back home?
  *​Culture Shock
• Language Barrier
  *​Holiday Blues: How to handle traditional celebrations when you are away from family.

​2. Building a New "Normal"

• ​Social Integration: How do I make local friends
  *​Bureaucracy & Systems
• Transportation and Housing

​3. Emotional Resilience
*The Guilt of Being Away: Dealing with aging parents or family emergencies back home.

• Friendship Turnover: The sadness of temporary friendships in the expat community.