How do you make friends abroad as an expat?

Many people dream of living abroad, and with good reason! It’s the opportunity to be immersed in a world completely different from the one we know and have grown up in. Who doesn’t want to travel to new lands, discover trails and landscapes previously unknown to us, and taste local recipes and foods whose names we don’t even know? As adults, we’re plunged back into a world where we’ve only seen the surface.

How to make friends: immersion efforts

That’s right! It may seem obvious to many, but learning the local language helps enormously, and yet it’s not always the norm. In the eyes of the locals, a foreigner who speaks the language is seen as a pleasant surprise, sometimes even a form of expected respect, depending on the country. Even if the language level is far from perfect, locals are often touched by the efforts of expatriates wishing to integrate into their culture and customs. What’s more, many locals speak only the local language: in other words, the better your language skills, the more opportunities you’ll have to talk to and make friends with the locals!

This video can explain it more:

It’s also a good idea to find out about cultural norms, and even more specifically, politeness standards, to avoid making a bad first impression. These standards can vary enormously from one country to another. For example, while in France it’s impolite to eat soup noisily, in Japan it’s quite common to make a noise by sucking up your noodles. Another well-known example is the French kiss, which in most other countries is perceived as too invasive and intimate. In general, it’s a good idea to find out how to say hello in different countries. It can be a hand on the shoulder, a hug, a kiss, bowing while keeping your distance… Different greetings exist for different social contexts.

Social networks at your service

Sometimes it’s hard to go out without knowing anyone, for the shyer among us… or not knowing where to start making friends. In these cases, Facebook groups can be a good first approach to the problem. All it takes is a few key words in the search bar, using city and nationality. It’s very easy to find expatriate groups on these networks, not only for sharing advice, but also for organizing activities, outings and making friends. This can be between expatriates exclusively, or in immersion with locals, depending on your wishes. In addition to social networks, some organizations are entirely dedicated to networking.

However, if you don’t want to meet people in a group, or prefer to start a discussion before meeting people, dating apps such as Tinder, Hinge, Meet up can also be used to make friends. It’s also common to use language exchange apps in the same way as dating apps, whether romantic or friendly, with the advantage of practicing and progressing in the local language.