Expats find themselves in a new country with no friends. Some expats therefore gravitate to fellows from their home country who are also expats. While those people can be invaluable for learning how to get along in the new location, having only friends from your home country denies you of one of the richest experiences of being an expat – making international friends.
Some people are outgoing and have no trouble meeting new people. For others, it helps to have a strategy. Here are a few ways to get to know the people in your community.
Join a Fitness Studio
If you have free time, why not improve your physical condition by joining a fitness studio and develop a regimen of running, cycling, swimming, playing tennis, lifting weights or whatever suits you. You will meet other like-minded people which could lead to nice friendships.
Enroll in a Community Education Program
People often ask me if there is an equivalent to the German Volkshochschule in the US. Absolutely and it is usually promoted under the name “Community Education”. Use the Internet to search this term for your community or contact the municipal government to find out how to get more information.
Many of their classes are held in the evenings because they use local area high school classrooms. But some are held during the day for people looking to get out of the house. The range of courses is enormous from all kinds of arts and crafts to travel and language topics, culinary, health and fitness, gardening and a wide range of hobbies as well as skills which can help a person at work like mastering specific computer software programs.
Just like the German VHS, these programs are not only a great way learn something, but offer opportunities for making social contact with fellow students. Fees are usually quite reasonable and you can count on a warm and affirming atmosphere.
Volunteer
There are never too many eyes and hands when a classroom full of five-year olds are turned loose to paint. In the first several grades of elementary school, adult volunteers are always welcome.
Elderly care facilities are ever so grateful for people willing to talk or read to lonely seniors.
And hospitals are always looking for volunteers to deliver reading materials and talk with patients or help them get outside for some fresh air on a nice day.
The possibilities for volunteering to help people have a better life are almost endless. Churches collect canned goods and then package them up for distribution to homeless and hungry people.
Be creative and think about how you can help improve the lives of others while feeling good about yourselves.
Hold an Open House
So you would like to meet your neighbors and work colleagues. Once your home is set up (furniture, etc.), you might invite people to an open house. Pick a Sunday afternoon and a week beforehand start inviting people. You and your partner can go from door to door, briefly introduce yourselves and invites them to “An open house at our place Sunday from 3 pm to 7 pm. Invite LOTS of people. A crowded open house is a successful one. Not everyone will be able to attend. Some will only stay a few minutes while others may remain longer. Push your furniture toward the walls to make plenty of room and have some tables with water, soft drinks, beer and wine. Also put out some simple snacks. Nothing which requires cooking. A dip with cut vegetables and potato chips would be good. That way you have maximum time for your guests and not worry about kitchen matters.
You will hit it off with some people and not others. But out of the open house you will undoubtedly create some plans to get together with some of the visitors.
Parenting
Most kids are not shy about making new friends. And while your children are playing with others, you will have an opportunity to make friends with their parents.
House of Worship
In America you will discover that churches, synagogues and mosques are not just places of worship but also centers of community life. If you practice a religion, check out the lectures, dinners, dances and other social events they offer.
Whichever techniques you use to get acquainted with others in a new environment, you will find these contacts to be rewarding in many forms.
Title photo by Blake Cheek on Unsplash