By on February 12th, 2016

Making Friends While Abroad

Completing your education or gaining valuable work opportunities aren’t the only reasons you choose to live abroad. Experiencing life in a new country teaches many life lessons that can’t be learned in any other way. Becoming an international student or intern is an eye-opening adventure, and if you go home with only the degree or job reference, you’re missing out on half the experience. One of the best and easiest ways to see the culture of your new home up close and personal is through your new friends.

Making Friends

Making friends as an adult is an art. We are no longer grouped together by interests or age similarities, so it’s up to us to seek out and make friendships. This can be extra challenging if you don’t speak the language or share the culture. Try to find activities or places where shared interests will make up for the lack of other commonalities. Joining a gym or an exercise class is a great example. You may find a kindred spirit at the local yoga studio. Try to say yes to as many social invitations as you can, and when you have plans with a friend, ask them to bring another friend that you haven’t already met. Volunteer activities are a great way to make friends because everyone there is already looking for ways to help someone. Once you have established a friendship, it’s important to maintain the relationship with regular thoughtful contact.

Socializing at School or Work

Your school or work campus can be a great place to make friends as well. Most college campuses will host regular social events that let you interact with students and faculty you may not come into contact with through your regular classes. Many workplaces do the same, or host in-office games or gift swaps during the holidays to promote friendship. The key to making and keeping friends in either situation is to follow up on connections. Invite a potential friend to hang out away from school or work, and discuss other topics. Again, ask them to bring their own friends to help widen your social circle even more. While this can be intimidating if you are shy or still learning the language, the shared workplace or classmate relationship offers a great starting point to building a new friendship.

Help from Your Host Family

Your host family probably participates in many activities and community gatherings that make great places to find new friends. Attending your host family’s church or sporting events with them allows them to introduce you to their friends, and you get the safety of retreating to their side if things aren’t going so well. This may also be a great way to discover volunteer positions and other interest-focused activities. Ask your host family if they would be willing to host a neighborhood block party or a backyard BBQ for their friends, and bring some of your friends along. A social mixer like this helps everyone make new connections that could turn into lifetime friendships. With your hosts to ease the way with an introduction, this may be one of the easiest ways to make friends as you adjust to life in your new home.

While your education and work experience are very important, don’t discount the education you can receive from experiencing the culture through friendships. Your new friends can introduce you to music, food, arts, and activities that you may never have otherwise been exposed to. Speaking with them will improve your language skills, and you’ll come away with connections that will last even after you return home.