Making Friends Online
Sign up for a pen pal website. Penpal World, Global Penfriends, InterPals, and Conversation Exchange are websites that match you with other people from around the world so that you two can become pen pals. Create a profile on one of these sites, choose a country, and get chatting with people from all around the world. When you create a profile you'll be asked to fill out a page that displays basic details about yourself, like your interests, the country you're from, and your birth date. Start writing your pen pal by penning a short introduction about yourself, including details like your interests and why you want a pen pal. Leave your pal a few questions and wait for their reply. Using websites like these is also a great way to practice a foreign language you’re studying.
Use meetup sites and apps to find friends. You can find groups or make a post to make friends with people from other countries. Apps like Discord and Meetup let you meet new people based on your interests. Another option is to visit websites like Gumtree and Craigslist and look for groups or posts created by people from other countries. Contact your new friend through direct messages and start talking to them. Say something like, "Hey I'm interested in Indian culture and was wondering if you were having a meetup anytime soon. I'd like to join you even though I'm not from India myself."
Download dating apps to make friends. Surprisingly enough, dating apps aren’t just for dating. Download dating apps like Coffee Meets Bagel, Tinder, and OkCupid, and set the profile to the “Looking for friends only” option. Then, search different profiles on the app and look for people that are from other countries. This is a popular way that people from other countries look for friends when in a new place. Once you’ve found yourself a match, introduce yourself by saying something like, “Hi, my name is Dan! I got this app because I want to meet people from all over the world. It’s so nice to meet you!” Start the conversation by asking them about their interests, hobbies, job, or anything else you may be curious about.
Find friends through social media. There are tons of social media sites being used worldwide so use these to your advantage to make online friends in other countries. Look for Facebook groups or Twitter communities that include people who share your interests. For example, if you’re looking to make friends in the Netherlands who are engineers, search “engineers in the Netherlands” and see if there’s a community for that. Popular social media platforms that are used internationally include Facebook, Twitter, Bebo, and Badoo. When you talk to someone online, do research about their social customs and try to be as polite as possible. Say something like “Hey, my name’s Jessica. I wanted to learn more about the Netherlands and wanted to talk to people from the country. Would you be interested in chatting with me?” Be cautious when giving away any personal information to people you’ve met online. Avoid sharing things like your full name, phone number, home address, and any banking information.
Making Friends in Person
Live with international roommates. When searching for a place to live, specifically look for roommates who are from a different country. If you already have a place to stay, consider finding a roommate from another country so that they can come live with you. Join social media groups for finding roommates in your area and either create an ad for an open room you have or look at other people’s posts. For example, your ad may be something like, “One full bedroom available for rent. Looking for an international student that speaks French or German.” Living with an international roommate can be super fun. Just make sure you’re being respectful of their space and keep an open mind about what makes them different from you. Do fun activities with your roommate to strengthen your friendship, such as cooking together, watching movies, and decorating your living space together.
Meet friends when you travel. If you’re traveling, staying with locals is another great way to be introduced to locals living in the area and find a buddy to explore the area with. Go to popular local restaurants, bars, and museums to meet up with people from that country. Grab a bite to eat or a drink and have a good time talking about the local culture and your unique experiences. Websites like Couchsurfing help people find lodging with locals from the area they’re traveling to. If you are staying with locals, make sure to read previous reviews and have a backup plan if your original lodging plans don't work out. Stay alert and aware of your belongings and steer clear of anything that seems like a scam when you travel to a different country. For your safety, meet up with a group of people first rather than one-on-one.
Make friends while studying a foreign language. Even a basic understanding of another language can help you build bonds with people that speak that language. Find people to converse with while you’re traveling to both practice your skills and make some new friends. Participating in a language exchange is also a great way to connect with people and talk about your different cultures and experiences. Use apps like HiNative and iTalki to find language exchange partners and see if you can meet up in person while you’re traveling.
Be open-minded and kind to people that you meet. Being respectful and being willing to learn about new experiences will help you make friends wherever you go. Try to find commonalities and relate to people’s different experiences. Ask them questions about their lives and things that you're interested in, and share your own stories to offer them a new perspective as well. Practice cultural sensitivity by doing a bit of research about the region you’re traveling to beforehand to see what kinds of practices local people follow. Do your best to stay away from potentially controversial topics, such as politics and religion.
Making Friends in School
Sign up for a study abroad program. Going on a study abroad program will give you the opportunity to study in a different country. Use this time to make close friends with your roommates or classmates that you meet as well as locals in the area. Try to take advantage of the unique aspects of the region by eating local food and going to local restaurants and stores. Programs such as Engineers Without Borders and Nursing Beyond Borders are examples of service-focused programs. If your goal is to not only make friends but also help in international communities, these are good programs to look into. There are also opportunities for high school students to participate in exchange programs fully or partially funded by the U.S. government.
Join international student groups. Go to your school’s office and see if there are any international groups that have open registration. If you attend a college or university, there’s a good chance there are student organizations and clubs that have members from all around the world. Choose a group and see if they’re accepting new members. These student groups are a great way to make lots of new friends. Organizations usually plan big social events and fun activities that bring people together as well as educate everyone about the specific country and culture.
Get involved with your school’s international exchange program. Many colleges will have ways for you to get involved with the school’s exchange program. Look on your school’s website and see if there are ways for you to be an ambassador or buddy to international students who come to your school to study. There may also be other volunteer opportunities that you can partake in. Act as your international friend’s guide and show them around the area. Take them to your favorite restaurants, cafes, and stores and do fun activities together. For high school students, programs like EF Education First provide opportunities for you to host a foreign exchange student from another country for a few months.
Participate in events and activities centered around the international community. If your school puts on special international events, make it a priority to attend. Meet new people while you’re there and get their contact information so you can talk more and hang out later. If you go with a group of friends, see if they can introduce you to anyone they know. These kinds of events can include things like: International student fairs Concerts and performances Presentations and lectures
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