Something about this time of year just feels like a reset, doesn’t it? The days get longer, the air gets warmer, and suddenly you find yourself wanting to open the windows, clear out the clutter, and start fresh. Spring has that effect on people. So let’s lean into it.

I’ve been thinking a lot lately about the people in our PGITI community — and honestly, about how easy it is to let good relationships drift. Life gets busy. Months go by. And before you know it, someone you genuinely care about has become someone you just occasionally see on social media. We can do better than that.

PGITI exists because of a shared experience that is both universal and deeply personal — the experience of crossing borders, of building a life somewhere new, of carrying more than one world inside you. You’ve packed up your life and moved to a new country, or you’ve come home after years abroad only to realize “home” feels a little foreign now, too. You know the particular mix of wonder and disorientation, the way you and the world have changed, and have appreciated the relief of finding others who understand without needing an explanation.
That experience creates an instant bond. A shorthand. A sense that "You get it" that’s hard to find anywhere else.
But those connections don’t maintain themselves. They need a little tending.

So here’s my challenge to you this spring: think of three people in your sphere — a fellow PGITI member you’ve lost touch with, someone new to the group who could use a friendly face, or even a P&Ger outside PGITI who’s been living internationally and might not know we exist — and just reach out. No agenda. No formal reason. A text, a coffee invite, a quick message that says hey, I’ve been thinking about you.
That’s it. That’s the whole ask.

The world is better when people who’ve lived across borders find each other. That’s why PGITI exists. And every connection we make — or remake — this spring is a small reminder of what we’re really here to do.

Happy spring, everyone. Let’s make it a good one.

With warmth,

Elizabeth
PGITI Chair