The last couple of weeks, I’ve met several new people here in Paraguay, which is making staying here more fun. Even for those of us who tend to keep to ourselves, living overseas is much more comfortable when you have some friends in your life.
If you’re worried that you’ll get overseas and not know anyone, here are a few ways to make it easier to find new friends when you get to your new country.
Before you head to your new country, you’ll probably check out the Internet to gather information about it. If you’re on a forum, start to participate. Do more than just ask questions, get the answers, and never return. Read the other posts of the people who answer your questions. Do they sound like people who share your values? If so, besides finding a good source of information, you may have found someone to meet when you get overseas.
Do the same with blogs you find. You’ll find a wide variety of people who have moved to most every country and are writing about their experiences. Not all of them will be there for the same reason you want to go, but it’s probably worth your time to leave a comment on their blog to see if they have any suggestions for other people to contact.
Look for, and join, Facebook groups on the place where you want to move. When you do join them, don’t just read, but participate. If you make a trip to visit a country, see if there’s anything you can bring for the people you’ve been chatting with online. I’m sure they’d appreciate something that can’t find there, and it’s a great opening for you to meet them for coffee when you first arrive,
Once you’re living abroad, take the opportunities you have to meet new people. I keep thinking of the movie “Yes Man”, with Jim Carrie. In the movie (loosely based on the real-life story of a comedian), the main character decides to say, “Yes” to everything that comes his way. If someone invites him to a restaurant or bar, he goes. Even if it’s not the type of place he likes, it provides a new opportunity to expand his life.
Now, I’m not saying that you should say yes to everything – especially if it seems dangerous. But be open to new activities and meeting new people. It’s tempting to avoid frustrating situations, like when you go out and have difficulty talking with someone. However, if you decide to avoid all those problems, you’ll start to make your world much smaller.
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