AA meetings - abroad

[SS234]

Do AA meetings or anything similar exist abroad - for those going on longer trips out of the country? I'm just curious. I've been on these forums as I was seeing a recovering alcoholic and understand the importance of meetings for some on a consistent basis.

[ANGELINA243]

Yes--AA does exist in other countries.

[tiburon88]

Yes but AA is not as popular as here. Depending on the country you may have a hard time finding a AA meeting.

tib

[Tazman53]

Well my sponsor had no problem findind several english speaking one in Japan, the majority were in Japanese which would make sense in Japan!!! LOL I know a lady who found deveral English speaking ones in Spain with a lot of Spainish speaking ones as well.

It depends upon what part of the world one is going to, I was kind of shocked at how many there were to be honest. As Tib says, there are some countries where they are hard to come by, the Middle East except Isreal is an area where there are not a lot of meetings, but a friend of mine was over there and said one of the local papers had an article about how helpful AA could be in Saudia Arabia.

[gastoni]

I think that AA meetings can be found pretty much anywhere in the world. I spent one year throughout Southeast Asia (Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, etc.) and China recently, including about 7 months in the Philippines. AA is new to most of these places, sort of like it was around here in the beginning. In the whole of China (pop. 1.3 billion) you can find about 2 dozen meetings total, mostly in Beijing and Shanghai. I was so situated that I couldn't make a meeting while I was in China but I was in contact with some members there, who took good care to send me a Big Book in Chinese when I requested one. I just learned that they started a meeting in Dalian.

While I was in the Philippines I had the chance to go to quite a few meetings, specially in Cebu City, where I found the fellowship to be very healthy. They were doing a very good job in carrying the message. I've met some fine members there, who made sure that the newcomers got involved from the very start. I had the opportunity to go with them to carry the message inside the walls. In Davao too they had a good thing going and I did go to some meetings. Actually, we started a new meeting on Friday nights. There used to be a meeting there but it fell off the side for some reason, so we got it going again and last I heard it was doing pretty good.

I spent a couple of months in General Santos and although there are no meetings there I believe that one day there will be.

Maybe I will write some more later...

Gaston I.
Quebec City

[barb dwyer]

Tht'a what the Founders were aiming for, I think ... that anywhere... an alcoholic could find help and compassion.
Gives me the 'warm fuzzy' feeling that it's happened for us all.

Although I have to admit I was quite disappointed to hear the meetings in Japan have chairs....
I was kinda hoping for the whole little table you kneeel at and all that.

I haven't BEEN to one - but I LOVE hearing about world wide meetings. So I only HEARD they have actual chairs at Japanese meetings....

[CarolD]

I know many cruises offer a Friend of Bills meeting.

Also...check this link....look to the left
for world wide info...

Alcoholics Anonymous : Central Offices, Intergroups and Answering Services for (U.S. and Canada)

...I have no idea how up to date it is
but it's a start.

[CarolD]

Thanks gastoni for sharing your experiences

[navysteve]

AA does exist abroad. The meetings are often harder to find and just because it says english speaking on the schedule does not mean that it is. If you are travelling abroad some good advice ( from someone who has travelled a place or two) Get contacts before you travel. And by get contacts I mean make actual voice or email contact with a point of contact. If you want further guidance you can pm me. As an occupational hazzard I have some experience in finding meetings in other countries

[tiburon88]

My friend who was in Honduras told me they had a few AA meetings in the evening. The only problem was she was told that they were in a very run down neighborhood & that it wasn't safe to go after dark. I have another friend who came from Russia & he told me they have very few meetings.

tib