“Most dear to me are the friendships”: reconnecting with Cardiff decades later

Joseph Rapoport (MA 1990) is an IT Systems Engineer based in Houston, Texas. 18 years after finishing his master’s in History at Cardiff, he set up a LinkedIn group bringing together fellow alumni in the U.S. Here, Joseph reflects on staying connected with Cardiff, even from the other side of the Atlantic.  

“Ultimately, every now and then I grow homesick for my second home – Cardiff,” Joseph says. “I thoroughly enjoyed my time at the university and have lots of great memories with friends.” 

Having studied his undergraduate degree in Texas, Joseph was aware that Houston locals would occasionally get together to watch collegiate sports games. In fact, alumni associations are very popular in the U.S., offering a helpful path to staying connected with a college community. This inspired Joseph to bring together Cardiff alumni – whether for a drink, some conversation, or a bit of networking. The result was a LinkedIn group, where Joseph could organise meetups, share news, and keep in touch with friends back in Wales.  

Since starting his group in 2008, membership grew to over 5,500 alumni and student members based all over the world. Joseph has even reconnected with friends he’d lost touch with since he graduated in 1990. “Most dear to me are the friendships I have made and kept,” he says. “They’ve weathered distance and time after 36 years, and they’re still going strong.” 

Following Joseph’s lead, an official LinkedIn group is now open to Cardiff alumni. Offline, international Alumni Chapters and groups also offer a chance to reconnect and network – from New York to Hong Kong, Cardiff communities come together to share news and opportunities.   

In the future, Joseph would love to see further events organised via LinkedIn, much like his familiar Houston get-togethers. “I visited Cardiff in the early 2000s and reunited with my professors and lecturers, as well as enjoying great food with my friends who still lived around Cardiff,” he recalls. Since then, hundreds of alumni have come together for lively “Re-Freshers’ Nights” in 2022 and 2024, and this August, 1980s alumni are invited to turn back the clock at the Students’ Union.  

Joseph looks back fondly on all the friends he met and the places he lived during his own student days. “My first year, I lived in University Hall and spent a few nights at their pub playing pool and meeting new friends. My second year, I lived in a communal house on Colum Road with students from France, Cornwall, Poland, and the Philippines. The exposure to different cultures and foods was a great experience.”   

Whether you choose to return to Cardiff or get together with alumni in another city, reunions are a great way to stay connected with your alma mater. Joseph is certainly an advocate for trips to the Welsh capital.  He lists off the highlights: “I loved my trip to Barry Island with Dr Chris Williams and his family, feasts with friends at Bo Zan, and wonderful Italian meals at Lucianos. I also saw the Royal Welsh Theatre perform Pirandello’s Henry IV, with the masterful Richard Harris in the lead role.”  

One thing’s for sure – whether you’re keen to sample the Welsh arts scene, take a foodie tour of Albany Road, or perhaps take a trip down Chippy Lane, Cardiff will gladly welcome you home.  

Ready to join our online Cardiff alumni group? Head to LinkedIn. You can also find an Alumni Chapter near you or reconnect with old friends via one of our alumni Facebook groups. 

If you’re interested in organising your own reunion, take a look at some key tips and resources to help you plan your own event. And for more Cardiff memories from our alumni community, visit our YouTube channel.