These all sound like great ideas! I live in a relatively small city here, and most Americans are here for temporary, 1 year stays (study abroad programs and 1 year teaching assistant programs). As for true, real expats, there are about four of us. But, you’re right. I could spark an expat night, even if its just for drinks and a little native English speaking. Sounds like a great idea!

I did the same in Brussels some decades ago, Helen. In fact we performed one of Peter Ustinov’s plays and were able to meet him at the after-party!

Molly, glad to help! You may want to join an American book club, an expat drama club, or some other kind of group. In Buenos Aires, the Lincoln Library was a great place to go way back when. It was sponsored by the American Consulate. It’s good to immerse yourself in the local culture, but it’s also OK to take a breath of where you grew up and enjoy that on a regular basis. Call it “professional development” if you have to. What’s available in your city? Could you connect with some American expats and start a drama reading club? Maybe read plays for an audience? They’d love it! You get together and practice a few times to get it straight and discuss it, and then you get to set up a basic set, rent a room, and run the play in a very basic format. That could be cool! Just another creative way to keep it real. And you’d be forced to keep the accent, the whole thing real.

I’m glad I could help, Catherine! In Argentina, I was in an English speaking drama group, among other things.