Do you need friends while studying abroad? If yes, this guide is for you. One of the most important reasons to study in another country is to gain a worldwide experience to get jobs faster. But that’s not all, you will make friends from all over the world. You learn a lot by living with people from different cultures, customs and languages. But how to meet them? It is normal that at first you feel intimidated by the situation and do not know for sure how to approach them to start a conversation. There are several ways to take the first step and be in the right environments to create friendships that the promise will last a lifetime! Below are some fun and safe ways to make new friends while studying outside.
1. Get in touch with the students of the university You can start making friends, even before traveling. A good tip is to get in touch with the students of your new university either by email or through social networks and start chatting with them before leaving. So when you arrive abroad, you will have had contact and you can finally meet them personally.
2. Attend initial orientation for international students Most of the foreign universities accustomed to receiving international students make a great reception of guidance to help meet the institution, the campus and the region and also inform about the rules, duties and rights. All this makes participation in the event important, because it is the first direct contact with the university, its collaborators and professors. And his students! Mainly other foreigners in the same situation. That is, an excellent opportunity to meet those who are also starting their studies at the same time and want to make friends upon arrival.
3. Group work For some, a big headache, but working in groups in a course abroad will be a very good opportunity to meet classmates and who knows how to form a fixed group for the next jobs, which will facilitate when Teachers ask to work in pairs or in groups. Therefore, even if you are the type of person who does not like teamwork in the classroom, stay open to the new friendships they can offer.
4. Participate in student clubs, organizations and teams Student organizations and clubs are one of the funniest things in international universities. You can be part of anyone and as many as you want. The best part is that in them you will find people with interests and habits similar to yours. For example, a photography club or an international student organization. All of them hold periodic meetings and organize events so that their members can meet and practice a common activity. And they also have university sports teams! A great way to make friends, stay fit and build a career in sports (and who knows, until you get a study grant).
5. Walk, chat and be open to leave your comfort zone Studying outside inevitably means leaving the comfort zone. And that's very good! In all aspects, the experience will help to grow in many ways. One of them is to get out of the bubble and start a conversation with strangers and in a foreign language. It will be weird at first: you will feel insecure, you may not know exactly what to talk about and you are afraid that the person is not at the end of the conversation. You just have to say hello, talk about the university or the country, and let the conversation flow like any other. They agree to visit a museum or have dinner with typical dishes from each country. Set up a weekly study group. Mark a weekend trip. The possibilities are endless!