How to Make Friends in a New Country?
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If you are considering an international move, it’s no surprise to worry about loneliness and feeling isolated when first arriving in this new country. With so many friends and family members far away, you may be thinking about who will take you out for coffee or to dinner or provide company or a shoulder in good and difficult times.
It is overwhelming to adapt to an entirely different place. But whether such would even prove to be true doesn’t really matter—there are plenty of other ways to make friends when you’re overseas. Here’s where to start making friends and building community in your new home.
Before you move
Learn About the Country
Learn all you can about the social practices and customs of your new country BEFORE you go. You’ll be able to relate to locals on a more personal level and blend in better.
Keep in mind, your home country’s tolerance may have a negative impact on your behavior abroad! Keeping up with local news is another effective strategy for transitioning into light and casual small talk, unless it’s political gossip that could potentially cause offence right away.
Learn the Language
Learning to at least get by with the language is an absolute must. You can’t make friends if you can’t talk.
It’s best to start early, reading textbooks or language learning resources or watching movies in the target language with subtitles. Furthermore, when you get there, knowing some even basic conversational skills will aid in learning more through everyday interaction. Locals generally find that attempting it is admirable, even if your accent or pronunciation isn’t exactly spot-on.
Use Social Media to Build Connections
Before taking the plunge, investigate expat groups, local community forums, and neighborhood social pages. They’re excellent places to meet people, ask questions, and get a feel of the place.
As an adult, I have had a child with someone who did not reciprocate my feelings. Please tell your kid to exercise common sense when meeting with anyone on social media in real life.
Start Smart Before You Move
Those preparatory steps—mastering the culture, practicing the language, and meeting people online—help make it less disjointing when you arrive.
After you move
Get Out There
If you want to make friends, you need to go somewhere people can do that. Visit regular local cafes, pubs, and restaurants and engage in conversation with the regular patrons.
You might seek out clubs, neighborhood organizations, or sports teams you’d like to join. Living local not only enhances your move but also lets you meet people organically.
Be Friendly and Take Initiative
Don’t wait until people make introductions. You are the newcomer—so taking the first step is natural and should be expected.
Ask somebody for directions, chat to someone at a café, or ask where you should go in the way you are going. It is again worth pointing out that even small talk can lead to meaningful friendships. And please remember to smile, make eye contact, and be confident (even if you’re still learning the language).
Don’t Give Up
Friendships take time. Be someone who puts herself out there and seeks new experiences.
Living in a foreign country Being an expat also exposes you to new experiences, cultures, and viewpoints. Appreciate your surroundings and remember to take it slow even if you’re still working on that social circle.
Reading can be some great ‘me time,’ and resilience is never learned better than in isolation.” Other good things will come your way. And the folks back home are all just a message or call away.
Additional Ways to Make Friends in a New Country
Join Local Events and Community Activities
There are thousands of social activity opportunities you could do (festivals, farmers markets, language exchanges, art classes, or beginner-level workshops in just about any topic) in every city around the world.
Going to these events allows you to meet locals and fellow newbies who also want to widen their circle of friends.
Use Digital Tools to Meet People
When you’re new, technology can help close the gap:
- Event-finding apps
- Language-exchange platforms
- Expat community apps
- Hobby or interest-based groups
These tools can help you find people with whom you have something in common.
Co-working Spaces and Professional Networks
If you’re moving for work, co-working spaces, industry meetups, and professional organizations are great places to make friends—especially with people who know what it’s like to uproot.
Some networking events result in friendships, as it is.
Emotional Well-Being and Avoiding Isolation
The opposite of social adaptation is affective adaptation. Establishing a straightforward routine during your initial weeks on the ground and formulating manageable weekly social objectives can provide you with a sense of stability as you navigate unfamiliar territory.
Strive to balance socializing with downtime so you don’t burn out. Staying in touch with friends and family from your hometown is a beneficial cure for homesickness, and taking care of your mental health can go a long way toward helping you make new ones.
Safety Tips When Meeting New People
Choose public settings when you are meeting anew, and do not tell him/her too much about your past at the beginning. Allow trust to develop organically as you get to know somebody.
Respect cultural limitations, and always trust your gut. But staying conscious while being open allows you to make friends in both a safe and confident way.