Making friends abroad
Making friends abroad is essential to studying abroad. Are you the type that wishes he or she has the ability to make friends but has been finding that hard to achieve? Here are four ways to meet new friends while studying abroad, who you’ll keep in touch with long after your program is over.
1. Go to orientation: Student orientation, or the freshers’ fair, is an event hosted by your study abroad university that is not only intended to give you some helpful information about your new home, but will also help you meet new friends. In an environment where every international student is new to the program, school, and most likely the country, everyone is in the same boat. As you wonder how to make friends abroad, know that everyone else is thinking the same! This makes your project easier. Orientation is a great place for making international friends for this reason especially. No one knows anyone quite yet, so everyone will appreciate a friendly greeting from a fellow international student. Though the event may be optional, attending orientation anyway, will give you a chance to meet new friends before they’ve settled into a friend group.
2. Join some student clubs: Every university worth its salt will have some active student clubs for you to join. Whether it’s based on sports, hobbies, or a mutual love of getting discounts at local pubs, there will be plenty of opportunities to make new friends. As you learn how to make friends abroad, you’ll also realize that, in order to increase your chances of making local friends, it’s a good idea to join clubs that aren’t predominantly international students. You can also choose to join events created by other people- such as hiking trips, creative activities, or even pub nights, and you can even create your own!
3. Get a roommate or roommates: Getting some roommates might be an easy solution. Roommates, whether in a dorm or shared apartment, are a great way to easily meet new friends, save money, and find yourself surrounded by social activities. As you get to know your roommates, you can plan some weekly rituals to make everyone feel at home, such as having dinners together every Sunday. You can also plan to host cultural events like international potlucks, where everyone brings a dish from their home country to share with others. You’ll get the opportunity to hang out with your roommates’ friends and your roommates’ friends’ friends, and sooner or later you’ll find that you have no problems making international friends at all!
4. Organize plans to explore your new country: As you learn how to make friends abroad, remember to use your new surroundings as a way to strengthen your new international friendship. It’s important to enjoy your new study abroad country as much as you can. So, organize some day trips to sightsee, explore the local cuisine, and experience the nightlife - and invite your new friends along. Also invite your local friends to hang out, as they might be able to steer you in the direction of local restaurants that they’ve heard about, art exhibits they’ve been wanting to see, or even historic landmarks they’ve never visited. For many local people, tourist activities are left to their own holidays abroad, so you’ll find that they'll often join you as you explore their home city.
In general, think of making friends as a worthwhile investment of your time and energy. If you’re active and make an effort to connect with others - whether it’s just studying with friends or organizing a trip together, your investment will pay off with solid friendships that will last a lifetime!