How To Make Friends Abroad? Tips On How To Meet New People In A Foreign Country
Moving to a foreign country can be a thrilling and exciting experience, but it also comes with its fair share of challenges. One significant challenge is the lack of a support system and a sense of belonging. However, making new friends can greatly help ease this process.
It is essential to step out of your comfort zone and actively seek opportunities to meet new people. Joining clubs or organizations that align with your interests is a great way to connect with like-minded individuals.
Engaging in language exchange programs or joining local community events can also provide opportunities to meet new friends. Strategies for making friends consist of being open-minded and embracing cultural differences. Making an effort to learn the local language, customs, and traditions not only demonstrates respect but also helps in forming deeper connections with the locals.
Lastly, patience and persistence are vital when making a new friendship. Building genuine relationships takes time, so it is important to be patient and keep making the effort to socialize. With the support of new friends in a new country, the challenges of life abroad can become more manageable, and the experience can become truly rewarding.
Ways To Make Friends Abroad As An Expat In A New Country
There are so many challenges you face when moving to a new country. One of the first things you will ask after the “honeymoon” phase is over is, “How do I make new friends?”
There is not one answer on how to make friends. As long as you keep an open mind, you will find friends easily with similar interests. Living abroad, you’ll meet so many interesting people and form friendships that will last a lifetime.
There are so many ways to meet new people when you move abroad. Here are 11 ways to make friends in a new city.
How To Make Friends Abroad On Facebook?
If you are wondering how to make friends on Facebook, it is easy! You can join one of the MANY groups in your city. Valencia alone has at least 20 different groups you can request to join. By having these groups, it allows us to connect to other expats easier than you think.
It is easy to use social media to get information on everything that is happening in your city, along with other valuable information. These groups are a great way to start building connections and meet lots of new people.
1. Join A Local Facebook Page
Valencia has many local expat groups on Facebook. This is one of the best ways to make a new friend when you are new in town. Before moving here, I joined about 15 of them to gather as much information as possible.
It was very helpful when looking for a cleaner, babysitter, schools, extracurricular activities, events, health insurance, volunteer opportunities, etc.
Any time I had a question, I would type in the search bar first in those groups and if I didn’t see an answer, I would post my question in the forum.
**PRO TIP : Please, please type in the search bar of these groups before asking your question. I am not sure what is it about some people in the groups, but they can get a little nasty.
I have been yelled at a few times for asking a question that gets “asked all the time!” Just save yourself the headache from the lingering trolls online!!**
I will have to admit 15 is a bit excessive! I did in fact cut that down to 4 groups and they have more than enough information for our family! I have found some wonderful friends and connections off of these groups and I am so thankful for that.
Now if you don’t have a Facebook, you may want to make one just for making your life easier as an expat. I am not sure how I would’ve done any of this without the help and support of other expats! Moving to a different country can be isolating, but as long as you are open to new experiences and are willing to meet up with people, you will make lots of amazing friends in no time!
Is It Easy To Make Friends Abroad?
Yes, it is very easy to make friends as an expat. I say this from personal experience, but I believe it is easier here in Valencia to make a new group of friends than it was in the United States.
Yes, you have less people to choose from in the beginning (English speaking), but you will find that you can connect with most people right away. You have all moved to this location for a reason, so that automatically gives you a common interest.
While I always recommend trying to make local friends anywhere you go, with the initial language barrier and cultural differences, it is most likely that most people will find making expat friends easier to start.
I have a great blend of friends which I love! I have a lot of local friends, friends from the USA, and other friends from different countries around the world.
2. Join A Language Exchange
A lot of people before moving here recommended joining a language exchange. They have a Facebook group for the language exchange and they do events together all over Valencia.
This is a great way to make friends and an easy way to get to know your new home. They will meet up at local bars, restaurants, and do excursions together around Spain. It is a wonderful place to meet some like minded people on your new journey.
I have not attended any of these events yet but I have met many people that swear by the local language exchange here in Valencia. If you are too nervous to attend any of these events, I have found in my experience that many of the local Spaniards love to chat!
I love that the locals (especially from my children’s school) like to strike up a conversation with me to practice their English. while I get to practice my Spanish!
3. Join A Sport & Fitness Gym
There are many gyms all over Valencia to cater to any of your needs. I personally joined SUMA because they had classes I love to take in a smaller group setting.
I have met some very nice people from my gym and I now have a “gym buddy.” This is a great way to connect and build friendships while doing something you love and is familiar to you.
Each area in Valencia has a local polideportivo (kind of like a YMCA or Rec Center) where you can join sports clubs of your choosing for a small fee. If you are nervous to join gyms or fitness center because they don’t speak English, you can join one of the MANY trainers that have small classes in the Turia (river park that surrounds Valencia).
When we first moved here, I joined a workout group in the Turia during the summer. It consisted of 10 women and we would bring our children along so they could play while the moms had a great workout!
You can find TONS of recommendations in the Facebook groups. If you want to meet people fast, this to me is one of the easiest ways to make friends.
4. Go To As Many Events As You Can Of Your Interest
One of the greatest parts about living in a bigger city, is there is always an event going. Valencia as well as other cities, have the local news online where you can see what is happening near you. If you start wandering the streets in the evening, you are bound to stumble on some sort of exciting event!
The city center is a fun and lively place to explore any time of the day and you will for sure hear many people speaking different languages. If you are extremely extroverted like myself you can simply just approach them and ask, “Hey! Where are you from?” I have met some awesome people by throwing myself out there and not being afraid of what anyone thinks.
How To Make Friends In A Foreign Country?
Making friends in a foreign country can be a challenging but rewarding experience. It is important to be open-minded and embrace the local culture. This can involve trying new foods, participating in local activities, and respecting local customs and traditions.
By showing genuine interest in the culture, it’s a great way to meet locals who will appreciate your efforts. You should also consider joining social or community groups where you can meet like-minded individuals.
This could be a sports club, a language exchange group, or a volunteer organization. These groups provide opportunities to meet other people and make potential friends.
Please don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone and initiate conversations with people. Language barriers can be intimidating, but making an effort to learn basic phrases in the local language can go a long way.
It is equally important to be patient and persistent. Making good friends takes time, so be open to new experiences and be willing to put yourself out there. Keep in mind that making friends outside of your home country may require extra effort, but the connections you make can enrich your life in countless ways.
5. Use Local Apps To Meet People
There are so many Apps nowadays that is available either in your travel abroad or your relocation. You can use apps like Meetup, Facebook, Couchsurfing, etc. I am sure there are other platforms depending on where you will be living.
I personally only use Facebook and Meetup. I like that on Meetup you can join any local group of your choosing! It is a great way to meet people with a common interest in your new area.
6. If You Have Children, Sign Up For Sports Classes
If you have children, I believe this is one of the EASIEST ways to make new friends. All of my children do about 1-2 local classes of their choosing every week.
While you are there watching, it is very easy to strike up a conversation with a parent who is also waiting for their SAME AGE kiddo to be done with their activity!
After the activity is done and you see your children getting along, simply ask for a time to get together outside of the activity. This is a quick and easy way to make a new friend for both you and your child!
7. Play Beach Volleyball
If you are living in a beach area and want to make friends abroad, simply head down to the beach volleyball courts! Here in Valencia, the courts are always PACKED with people of all ages daily. It is a fun and easy way to meet people while you are getting some sun!
I see many people heading out to the bars on the beach during their breaks or jumping in the water for a quick swim. They have all levels on different courts so don’t feel nervous! You will find a group of people that will be perfect for what you are searching for!
8. Keep An Open Mind
One of the most important things you will need to do when you’re traveling, moving to a different country, or studying abroad, is to keep an open mind. If you are looking to make friends, this will be a key factor! You will need to step out of your comfort zone and accept cultural differences and norms.
One of the biggest hurdles for me personally that I had to overcome was to stop controlling every situation like I would in the U.S. Here in Spain, I truly had to let go of everything that was out of my control. It is very normal to feel confused and out of place in many situations, but as long as you keep an open mind and almost have a sense of humor you will be just fine!
I am a HARDCORE PLANNER and back home I would book out my month and have calendars everywhere for my family to see. Here in Spain I have learned to relax a bit more and to slow down.
From doing this, I have met good friends in the most random places (that weren’t planned)! I feel like I have more time to sit, relax, talk to people, and get to know everyone around me instead of rushing off to the next activity,
Now if you are already on the more chill side of the spectrum, you are doing it the right way!
9. Join A Sports Team
If you are someone who is keen on sports, joining a sports team in your area is a PERFECT way to help you make friends. By doing something you are passionate about while enjoying the company of others is also a great way immerse yourself in your new home!
Mine and my husband’s passion is volleyball so where ever we go, we try to always find a gym that offers open play. We have met some really cool people in every area we have lived! You can ask around in your local Facebook groups if anyone knows of any event or “open gyms” in your area.
Also keep in mind there are tons of adult leagues for futbol, basketball, tennis clubs, etc… With multiple skill levels for each league you will find the perfect balance of what you are looking for! I can’t imagine a better way to meet people or gain a new hobby!
10. Live With Roommates
If you are moving to new country or in a study abroad program, a fast way to socialize, is by having roommates. If you are in any of the local Facebook groups, you can write a little post about yourself and ask if anyone is looking for someone to live with.
There are many apps available to foreigners like Roomster, Facebook, EasyRoommate, etc. You can simply find something that will work for you within your budget and hopefully find a great group of new friends!
11. Join A Co-Working Space / Job
A lot of the families I know, do their work in a co-working space and have met a lot of like-minded people there. Most of the co-working areas have coffee or there is a shop nearby. The majority of the people at the co-working places (here in Valencia) are foreigners. What better way to connect with people while having a nice coffee break after a few hours of work!
If you are lucky enough to find a job in your new country, having co-workers is a great way to be able to make friends.
As you can see, there are so many different ways to connect with others in your area. There is no right way but go with what makes you the most comfortable and give it a shot! I am sure whom ever you meet is also looking to find a great connection as well. If you have any other tips for making friends abroad, I would love to hear them 🙂
P.S. Here at Simplify Abroad we have got different articles and videos done by a family of 6 (and three dogs), a family of 3 (and one dog) and a recent retiree. If you want to see more articles from us click here.
P.S.S. If anyone is interested we also have a YouTube channel where we cover different aspects of our lives / move overseas. Lastly if you have any suggestion for a new article or video you would like to see; please comment below or send us an email and we will see if we can make it happen!
