The Biggest Mistake I Made After Moving to Chiang Mai

Moving to Chiang Mai can feel like a fresh start — beautiful weather, affordable living, amazing food, endless activities, and people arriving from all over the world.

But starting over in a new country also comes with mistakes.
And I made one that affected me far more than I expected.
At this Meetup, I’ll share the biggest mistake I made after moving to Chiang Mai, what it taught me, and what I would do differently if I were starting again today.
Then I want to hear from you.

What mistakes have you made since moving abroad?
Did you trust the wrong people? Isolate yourself? Rush into relationships? Spend too much money? Stay inside the expat bubble? Fail to build real friendships? Or discover that the life you imagined was very different from reality?
We’ll talk openly about:
• The mistakes expats rarely admit
• Loneliness, friendships and finding your tribe
• Dating and relationships abroad
• Building a meaningful life instead of just keeping busy
• Learning who you can — and cannot — trust
• What we wish someone had told us before moving
• Turning mistakes into growth and a better second chapter
This is not a lecture. It’s an interactive conversation where everyone is welcome to share their experiences, perspectives and lessons.
Whether you just arrived in Chiang Mai or have lived here for years, you’ll probably recognize yourself in some of these stories.
Come for the conversation.
Stay for the connections.
Real people. Real stories. Real life in Chiang Mai.
📍 Location: Spice Garden, Chiang Mai
📅 Date: Thursday, August 20, 2026
⏰ Time: 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM

### Important Venue Note

Our Meetup is free to attend. To support Spice Garden for providing us with the space, we kindly ask each participant to order a minimum of 200 THB in food and/or drinks during the event.
Thank you for supporting the venue that makes these community gatherings possible. ❤️
Everyone is welcome!