Here I am, sitting on my computer in bed, Googling “how to make friends in a foreign country”. Suddenly, I stop and think, “I’ve never had to Google how to make friends before, so why should I have to now? I’m 24 years old, it shouldn’t be that hard.” That’s when I got the idea for this blog. Making friends abroad can seem like a daunting task; but luckily, it doesn’t have to be. After being here for a couple of months, I’ve come up with a list of ways to make friends no matter where you are!
Join Social Media Groups
During my first week in Australia, I joined a few Facebook groups for au pairs and backpackers staying in the same area. A few weeks later, I posted that I was new here and looking for friends to explore and go out with. Before I knew it, I was getting messages from other au pairs and backpackers left and right telling me we should meet up sometime! Instafriends! (I may have also used BumbleBFF, but hey, if it works, it works!)
Embrace the Hostel Community
Many people tend to shy away from hostels because they think “it’s weird to share a room with strangers”, or they’re “dirty”, or “not safe”. While this may be true for some places (like the 48 person room I stayed in while in Dublin, never again…) there’s plenty of high-end hostels that can truly make your traveling experience worthwhile. Don’t be afraid to book a bigger room with 6-10 people, or a co-ed room, it’s the easiest way to strike up a conversation with new people! Just think of it as moving into your freshman college dorm again…
When staying in a hostel, always take advantage of the extra offerings. Hang out at the bar or by the pool if they have one, sign up for their activities and tours, ask the concierge for recommendations for restaurants and bars, and then invite your new roommates to join in on whatever you do!
Camp Out at a Café or Hit Up a Bar
Yes, alone. Strike up a conversation with the bar-tender or the person next to you, it’s amazing how much you’ll find you have in common with a complete stranger. The second I start talking, people notice my accent and instantly know I’m from the states, they always have so many questions to ask! As children, we’re told not to talk to strangers, but as we get older, I think we start to realize that they’re not really strangers at all, they’re just friends we haven’t made yet.
Take A Class
I have recently joined CrossFit here in Australia (I know, something never in a million years I thought I would do). However, it has been one of the best choices I’ve made so far. Besides the whole getting in shape thing, it’s introduced me to a whole new group of people. There’s both locals and foreigners, old and young that attend CrossFit. You become close very fast when you’re cheering each other on while dripping sweat doing the hardest workouts of your life, and on Friday’s, we even hit up the brewery across the street after! Whether it’s a gym, a cooking class, a surf class, volunteering, etc., they’re a great way to meet people that share the same interests as you!
PUT YOURSELF OUT THERE
It may seem a bit intimidating at first, but you’ll be amazed at how easy it is to make friends while traveling. (Some may even become life-long friends!)