Ways to Meet People While Living Abroad

Finding Both Non-Expat and Expat Frienships in Foreign Cities

Mar 27, 2009 Katherine Kocisky

Those living abroad shouldn't be discouraged by initial feelings of loneliness, but instead should take advantage of meeting new people through one's own interests.

It's easy to be intimidated by a foreign country, its language, food, and customs. However it's best to gradually ease out of culture shock and adapt to a new life abroad by continuing to follow one's own hobbies and make an effort to learn about the culture. Meeting new people will follow naturally.

Language Courses and Conversation Exchanges

One of the easiest ways to meet expats, other than frequenting Irish pubs, is to enroll in a language course. Whether it be French, Italian, Spanish, or Greek, language skills are an obvious asset to meeting locals and building the confidence needed to get through daily life in a foreign place. Universities and language schools usually offer evening language courses that are fairly cheap.

For no cost at all, many people post advertisements on university announcement walls or around the city hoping to find a partner with whom to practice speaking i.e. Spanish and in return will help the other person with a language of their choice, usually the other's mother tongue i.e. English.

Conversation exchanges can prove to be very social, as most people prefer to meet at a cafe or bar. Sometimes, a language exchange partner may introduce his/her friends, creating more social and speaking practice opportunities.

Joining Outdoor/Sport Clubs and Social Activities Abroad

It's easier to talk to locals when both parties share similar interests. Joining a club or participating in a favorite activity will broaden social contacts while doing something culturally and personally rewarding.

For those who are active, biking, hiking, and ski clubs are good bets. After a long bike or hike, a group drink or dinner is usually in order, making conditions for socializing perfect.

Other activities like joining a choir, swimming pool, a gym, yoga or cooking class allow friendships to develop naturally. For just about every interest, a club or meet up group exists. The hard part is getting started.

To find a club or activity, it's helpful to inquire at a local tourist information office, a university, or even look through a local newspaper/magazine. Many clubs spawn from universities and if not, a local tourist information office or cultural house can direct those searching for something specific to the right place.

For clubs that are associated with universities, it's not necessary to be a student, although there are usually student discounts.

Finding and Living with Local Roommates Abroad

If coming to a foreign city without accomodation, perusing housing websites (usually specific to the country) and postings at university announcement boards looking for roommates is a sure-fire way to jumpstart rusty language skills and start meeting people. Living with locals is a great way to become quickly oriented with a city, while meeting a new circle of friends.

Benefits of Socializing with Colleagues

Although many people like to keep work and social lives separate, it's more difficult to compartmentalize life when abroad. Colleagues can provide advice, help with accomodation, great places to go out at night, and tips on appropriate cultural customs.

In the beginning, living abroad can seem overwhelming, lonely, and exciting at the same time. Everything's new, yet exhausting. Making friends abroad makes the adjustment period much more bearable. Long after leaving a place, it's difficult to forget those friends who made the time enjoyable and worthwhile.

The copyright of the article Ways to Meet People While Living Abroad in W Europe Travel is owned by Katherine Kocisky. Permission to republish Ways to Meet People While Living Abroad in print or online must be granted by the author in writing.

Language course students socializing