New Moon Coaching for Expat Women

Imagine a spacious place, full of light, works of art, and shelves packed with books all around you.

The expression “like a kid in a candy store” perfectly describes my state of mind when I enter a library. But as an immigrant, it’s more than just a store; it’s an anchor.

A Gateway to Belonging

Every freshly printed title sits alongside out-of-print editions. Every genre, from the great classics of literature to amateur radio manuals, cookbooks, and medicine, is at your fingertips. For someone navigating a new culture, this access is empowering.

If you can’t find a book in the catalog, the zealous librarians—who often act as unofficial guides to the community—will buy it for you.

Need to consult scientific articles or trade journals to jumpstart your career? The staff will track them down for you.

Not to mention the collection of audiobooks and ebooks instantly available on your phone.

A Community Hub for Every Generation

For the expat parent, the library is a lifeline. The children’s section, complete with toys and puppets, peaks during weekly storytimes. Watching your children captivated by tales of fairies—often in their new language—is a poignant milestone in the integration journey.

Even teenagers have their own dedicated space, from PlayStation stations to woodworking labs with laser cutters. It is a rare place where an entire family can find their niche without spending a dime.

The Sobering Reality of the “American Dream”

To a newcomer, this scenario seems heavenly. However, the library is also where the idealized “American Dream” meets a more complex reality.

The heated rooms and free internet attract a portion of the homeless population seeking shelter from the harsh Colorado winter. While the sharing of spaces had been generally tolerated by users until a few months ago, the last weeks have seen an increase in illegal drug use within the premises by a small fraction of these less orthodox visitors. Recent public health concerns regarding methamphetamine particles in the library air ducts serve as a jarring reminder of the crises simmering beneath the surface of our new communities.

Finding Perspective Among the Shelves

As an avid reader, the experience of a well-stocked and vital library sparks a sense of adventure in me: every row of shelves holds treasures you didn’t know you wanted, and my bag is filled with random titles for the sake of entering new worlds—one of which opens onto the reality of the homeless and the housing problem in an American county where the gap between millionaires and the poor is taking on increasingly cavernous proportions. As an Italian woman, I have often experienced a secondary culture shock when witnessing the stark divide between wealth and poverty.

What has been cause for culture shock in your expat journey? Share it in the comments.