Top Tips for Making New Friends when Moving Abroad

Making new friends can be a daunting task in normal life, let alone when you’re moving abroad. Fortunately, there are several tips and tricks you can use to make your transition smoother and help you quickly find your place in the community.

Whether you’re moving to a new city or country, here are some helpful ways to get started building relationships with the people who live there.

Join local groups

Finding local groups via websites or social media that host activities and events related to your hobbies is a great way to meet people with similar interests as you.

You may even be able to find an expat group where other foreigners have recently moved and are looking for friends too.

Other great places to look are online forums and language exchange websites where people post about their experiences living abroad, which can help create meaningful conversations and potential friendships.

Remember, if you’re meeting someone one-to-one, you should meet in a public place first, especially if you’ve only met on an online forum.

Attend events

From festivals to concerts, local restaurants, and museums, attending events is a great way to meet new people in your area.

It also provides an opportunity for you to learn more about the culture of the country you’ve moved to while connecting with locals who already know it well.

If you are able to, volunteering to help at these community events may also help you meet people, and have a reason to spark up a conversation.

Network

If you’ve just moved abroad for work or school, take advantage of any networking opportunities available at those institutions by introducing yourself and engaging with others in your program or workplace.

Participating in extracurricular activities like clubs or sports teams is another great way to network since these are usually filled with other students or colleagues who share common interests as well as similar backgrounds or goals that may lead to meaningful friendships over time.

Reach out

Don’t be afraid to reach out directly via social media platforms such as Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn etc., if there’s someone whom you think would be a good friend but haven’t had the chance to spend that much time with yet (e.g., through work or a hobby).

Introducing yourself via direct message has become increasingly popular so don’t feel awkward about making the first move.

However, you should remember not to bombard the other person with messages – they may prefer to get to know you in a group setting first, and you should respect their boundaries.

Conclusion

Making friends is never easy but it becomes especially difficult when we move somewhere completely new without knowing anyone else.

By using these tips – joining local groups, attending events, networking with peers, and reaching out directly via social media – you can create strong relationships that will last long after your initial transition into this new home away from home.

So don’t hesitate, go out there and make some awesome friends!