It can often be difficult for expats to find a sense of belonging or community upon arriving in Luxembourg. Things like language barriers or lack of cultural connection are arduous issues to overcome, and a lot of people arriving here come to view those factors as insurmountable.
Luckily though, clubs are a very good way to jump these hurdles. Michael Friedman, who currently works as a client onboarding associate at HQLAX, joined the American football club when he came to Luxembourg in the summer of 2021. Paperjam sat down with Friedman to discuss his experience with associations in Luxembourg and how he would advise expats in similar situations.
Meeting “people with a shared interest”
“When you move anywhere new and you don’t have family or friends, it’s like starting from scratch,” Friedman said at the start of the interview. Originally from the United States, Friedman has always been a fan of American football and hoped to continue pursuing his passion after moving to Luxembourg. He started going to the gym near his house in hopes of finding an athletic community there, but sadly came away empty handed. Friedman then began looking for a place to watch professional American football games on Facebook and happened upon the Dudelange Steelers.
The Dudelange Steelers has long been the only American football club in Luxembourg, and are, as Friedman put it, a “very diverse group, filled with Luxembourgers and tons of other nationalities.”
Friedman was immediately hooked by the atmosphere of the club and found it awesome to be surrounded by “people with a shared interest from all corners of the world.” After about a year of attending practices, he eventually became the head coach of the men’s section of the club.
Building a social network
Like with many other clubs, joining the Steelers provided Friedman with a social network that helped him ease into his life in Luxembourg. Members of the team assisted Friedman in setting up his home internet, TV and phone services, something that would have been very complicated for him without their help. “I [even] know a police officer now,” Friedman joked. “Not that he helped me get out of trouble, but he [also] helped me navigate.”
The benefits of joining a club are clear, but not everyone may be as lucky to find the hand-in-glove fit that Friedman found. Even he found it difficult with the Steelers at first, saying, “There is an element of getting out of your comfort zone. It’s tough to show up those first couple of times.” But to him, consistency was crucial. “Keep going [to club events], and keep going to things like it,” he said when asked what he would say to expats looking for a club. “It won’t come to you. Do what you love, and the right people will follow.” For Friedman, it was American football but for others it could be anything.
Evidently, Friedman’s advice is valid as he has been with the Steelers since 2021 and has guided the club to great success. With Friedman as head coach, the senior division of the club was able to climb up a league and they now compete against higher level teams in the German area bordering Luxembourg.
The Dudelange Steelers are actively looking for new members. Their flag section practices Mondays and Fridays from 7pm to 9pm, and their senior contact section practices Wednesdays and Fridays at the same times. Their current location is at Stade John F. Kennedy, located on Rue Stade John F. Kennedy in Dudelange.