How To Make Friends Abroad (With Links)

Making friends while teaching or studying abroad can be particularly challenging for young adults. I studied abroad in 2021 and only had friends from my program. When I decided to teach overseas in Madrid, I knew I wanted to make a change and connect with locals and other internationals. Making friends abroad can be difficult, especially for people teaching abroad, as it is more independent, and you may not see other language assistants every day. This blog breaks down all the things you can do to make friends abroad.  

Orientation/Pre-Departure

When teaching or studying abroad, attending Orientation is crucial because it can lay the foundation for the rest of your time abroad. If you don’t know anyone, this is your time to meet people and get their contacts before everyone disappears for the rest of the year. I also believe pre-departure can be beneficial as you can meet people virtually, find potential roommates, etc. I knew people who had met up before coming abroad because they had found out they lived near each other beforehand. This is extremely important, and I know not everyone can attend these events. If possible, I don't recommend skipping it. 

Facebook Group Chats

Although Facebook is an app for millennials, I have seen so many people have success stories through Facebook. Facebook is great because there is an endless amount of group chats for people to join. An example is American in [Your City], Language Assistant in [Your City], Expats in [Your City], Girls in [Your City], Events in [Your City], and the list quite literally goes on!

• Ex: Ladies in Madrid, check out this group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/703794576895716/ 

Language Exchange

Another way to meet people is to join language exchange groups. A language exchange is when you practice a language (usually your host country’s language) with a native speaker. In return, they practice their English with you (a native speaker). You are not only gaining experience by practicing a language but also by meeting international people and locals. 

• Check out this page for events/language exchange: https://www.instagram.com/madlife_madrid/?hl=en
• Free Language Exchange on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/madrid.language.exchange/ 

Exercise/Hobby Groups (Running & Yoga)

Meeting people based on your hobbies is a great way to meet people. Running groups in your host city are a popular way to meet people abroad. I have found success in finding a Yogo class taught in English, organized by an expat. After the Yoga class, they will sometimes get together to have coffee or drinks. The number of hobbies is endless; I’ve even seen groups for mothers abroad.

• Interested in a run club? https://www.instagram.com/degensrunclub/?hl=en 
• Yoga Classes in English: https://www.atiyasana.com/yoga?fbclid=IwY2xjawNiME9leHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETEwVjRvQUUzMjhWMXJySmg2AR4Shw_wCxYmxTdK92yFh6MUiIZuWafiLrIwjUPiEXDuzCa4H44_yc6CXfoANg_aem_IRVQfJVh-KgHK6NVSmzHKQ 

City Events

You may not know it, but a lot of expats have had these issues in the past and end up creating events for people like you and me to meet. There are also many scheduled events (especially for girls) to come together for dinner and other themes. These are starting to get popular, so that it may take some research, but they are there. These events typically cost money, so they are more organized than other events, but it is worth it because the people going to these events are also searching for friends. 

• All Events: https://www.eventbrite.com/d/spain--madrid/women/ 
• Girl Friends Material: https://beacons.ai/girlfriendsmaterial?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAad7aECTp1CiJRfCnbCvBBot_c5--tpqHN-0oxLTnnXNI0Vb6Gds-Fjr-aRumA_aem_lkR8CyUZfgsdfv0XsJJCyg 
• Deep Chats: https://linktr.ee/deep.chats?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaeyUNkZCnsFEX9JpiqjOoWIIQ4eR8Z5bmdQav2pavkwNVy9MD2mku6CLS4ePA_aem_BPkIFWY9tvgUZaFDpNQ4kw 

Making friends in a new city is intimidating, but it gets better the more you try. It is important not to let your ego and shyness prevent you from doing these things, but in the end, you will find friends and maybe even a community to go with it. If you enjoyed this blog and are interested in hearing more about my tips and tricks abroad, check out my personal blog: https://idalisvallejo.blog/