Cultivating Community Through Movement: A Social Catalyst for Digital Nomads

Embarking on my journey as a digital nomad 10 months ago, was a thrilling—and just a little terrifying—leap into the unknown. With new passport stamps came new pits in my stomach reminding me I was far from my community, family, and all familiarity. Finding a sense of belonging was starting to feel as elusive as a stable internet connection. With no desire to find friendship via drunken nights of bar hopping, the question began to creep into my mind: how the hell do you make new friends as an adult?

Little did I know, the solution was quite straight forward and already well practiced in my daily life back home. Yet, it wasn’t until a “might as well” moment in Cape Town that I was led back to what would be my remedy for the inevitable solo-travel blues: movement.

While newly navigating a globe-trotting lifestyle, I’ve landed on a simple 3-step process to cultivate connection in each destination: search up, sign up, show up. Search for places or groups around you that provide organized movement; sign up or send a message to commit yourself to the cause; and, most crucially, show up…regardless of the allure of comfortable solitude.

My go-to tools are now the social apps I had been using in all the wrong ways. I’ve begun to develop a healthy relationship with the Instagram search bar again and my TikTok algorithm feels re-aligned with opportunities for connection, rather than opportunities to make a purchase.  

Between hitting the pavement, the gym, the trail, or the beach courts, I’ve found the most community-centric option to be run crews. Run crews seem to provide a space that feeds a natural flow for conversation. People are free to move beyond the constraints of a yoga mat or circuit station allowing for the opportunity to connect at any pace.

The journey to discover camaraderie abroad has unfolded in equal parts sweat and smiles. As it turns out, you can have your cake and eat it too. By lacing up, you can send-it on Strava while uncovering a rejuvenating sense of belonging. Whether you’re on a similar nomadic journey or seeking connection in your city, let movement be your guide.

Postcard from Egypt

I’m back to civilization after a week spent offline at a small dive centre in Egypt completing my Open Water Dive course. Main Conclusions: the Red Sea feels like a warm bath, the fish are curious and breathing underwater feels like a strange loophole in the simulation.

I had no expectations. I landed at 2am at a small airport and spent the next 30 minutes getting into an Uber, taking a loop around the airport, having to get out, and then bartering with 20 men to get the best rate for my next two hour taxi ride. Mahmoud sealed the deal. He confirmed our agreed price and said, “you are my sister now”. He stopped to buy us coffee and water halfway through, rolled all of the windows down pushing 180km and didn’t go one moment without a lit cigarette in his mouth.

With the temp reading 27, I arrived just after 4am greeted by Magdy with glass of mango juice. Ah, cold juice. Time for bed.

The next days would be spent with my instructor, Moustafa (AKA Besso) keeping me sane below the surface, and reminding me to calm the fuck down. I don’t think I ever saw bubbles come out of his regulator, but I swear I saw some gills flutter on his neck at one point. Still up for debate.

Days 1 to 4 felt like a condensed semester and were both the most challenging and rewarding days I’ve had in a while. Each dive started with anxious head noise and ended with clarity. 10 dives later, with the longest clocking at 70mins, I can now say I’m happily addicted to life underwater, and get excitement over anxiety when taking the first plunge. The Red Sea and its bustling underwater cities will now hold a special place in my heart.