Ways to Make Friends While Living Abroad
A Social Life Can Enrich Your Experience Living in a Foreign Country
Jul 11, 2009
How is it possible to make friends within just a few months, or in a place where you have absolutely no connections? Going abroad can be intimidating, and building up a social life in a foreign country can be quite the challenge. But it is possible, even for adventurous world travelers on the shy side, to make friends easily. Here are a few suggestions for making friends while living abroad.
Join a Club or Organization
While living abroad, an easy way to meet new people is to find an activity of interest and give it a try. Take the following examples:
- a sports team
- a local theater or musical group
- a church organization
- community service organization
- group dedicated to some sort of cause
Pay Attention to Events on Posters and Fliers
For students abroad, a university often provides very easy avenues for making friends in the form of events that are sponsored by a school group. The event could also just be something happening in town that will likely be well-attended by other students, such as a concert.
For those working at a school, like as an English teacher, take advantage of open invitations to events such as school concerts, plays, or fundraisers. If students and/or teachers extend an invitation to an event, such as a school function, go. If asked to chaperone, give it a try.
Accept Invitations When Possible
Coworkers may extend an invitation to their homes or to a group outing, like dinner and a movie or play. Take advantage of this, rather than sitting at home alone to correspond with people from home. It's important to make friends even if there is no intention of putting down roots in a temporary international home, as it will make the experience abroad all the more enjoyable.
Making Friends When Foreign Language is a Factor
If a language barrier is a concern, consider taking a language class. This is also a great way to make friends from around the world who are also new to the country, and to practice speaking and building up confidence with a foreign language together. Another idea is to find a native speaker of the language, like a coworker or fellow student. This is a good way to get conversation practice and a great way to, through that coworker or fellow student, meet more native speakers and develop a circle of friends.
So while starting from scratch to build up a social life in another country can be a challenge, there are plenty of ways to make friends. From joining a club to participating in community events and events associated with a university or job, there should be several opportunities, even when living in a small town, to build lasting friendships.
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