Finding Friends & Being Social While Living Abroad
Why is finding friends and building a community around you so important whilst living abroad? Firstly, humans by nature are social mammals, and secondly, there might be a lot you want to learn, about the destination and culture, you might have lots of questions – it’s a lot to take in at once. You need to find somewhere to live, open a bank account, set up your internet connection, and at the same time get accustomed to the local language and culture. Often, especially if you’re travelling solo, you will feel homesick and lonely. Having a vibrant and active social life will help with that!
Most importantly, you want to meet others who understand your situation, who share your interests and hobbies – other global minds. Friends can help you adjust to new surroundings, food, and culture! They can help you better estimate your living costs, and suggest cost-effective ways on how to manage your money. Making new friends can also help with where to travel, visit and what to experience to really make the most of your time abroad.
Expat Communities
Did you know that most countries and cities have a vibrant expat community? People from all over the world come together to either live together in apartment complexes or just areas close by. Have you heard of InterNations and Expat? They are both extremely popular platforms that you can use to meet people internationally, connect with them, and are a great place to either exchange information or get an accurate answer to your burning questions. Learn from other peoples experiences, talk to people, there is so much advice out there! Best of all, you can plan meetups!
Facebook Groups/Pages
Start building your community before you leave, research is key! You can easily find like-minded people across all social media platforms. Especially on Facebook, the number of groups and pages that are TEFL related out there is immense, and there are even country and city-specific groups. Research and find one that suits you and put yourself out there. Introduce yourself, ask lots of questions, and network!
Making Friends While You’re Abroad
The first place to start would be teachers within the school you’re working at. They will already be used to TEFL teachers coming in to teach at the school. They will be the best people to bounce ideas off and also have excellent information and advice for you. Connect with them outside of school time too, it really helps to put yourself out there and invite them to do something outside your work environment. For example, dinner, mini-golf, lunch or a dinner party.
Connect with your neighbours! You have to start somewhere, being a great neighbour and introducing yourself right off the bat will help break the ice. How else are you going to find the best places to eat and drink nearby, if not through your neighbours!
Learn the language! We cannot stress this enough, learning the language even at a preliminary/foundational level is so important. This will help you communicate with everyone, in shops, restaurants, on the street, hospitals etc. Also, if you go to a class in person, which are widely available, you’ll meet so many people in the same position as you - another great way to connect! These classes often have social meet-ups and practical exercises that will help you get out there and practice what you have learnt with new people.
Do you have hobbies? Is there something you have always wanted to try? Carry on with all the things you love and are interested in by joining social clubs. A quick google search or asking fellow colleagues can help you find the clubs for you, whether that be wine tasting, pottery or reading, you’ll find like-minded people go and make friends! A platform we highly recommend is Meetup, where you can find and build local communities - “people use Meetup to meet new people, learn new things, find support, get out of their comfort zones, and pursue their passions, together.”
Connect with other TEFL teachers - brainstorm ideas, you already have a huge thing in common, so discuss problems, learn about the best areas, apps, how to look after your finances and so much more! Many people assume that you’re in competition with one another, but that is just not true. There are so many TEFL jobs out there, people specialising in different areas, that you don’t need to worry about competition. Instead, help one another, and enjoy the experience together. Check out EFL conferences in your area, these are common in areas with a high number of EFL, ESL and TESOL teachers.
Finally, invite your friends and family to visit you while you’re abroad! Merge both your worlds together and enjoy a little piece of home. Always be safe and wary of who you’re speaking to, your surroundings and you’ll have the best time! It may seem overwhelming, but remember there are SO MANY other people near you in the exact same situation. You’re here to have an adventure of a lifetime, to help the people you teach, and immerse yourself in a new culture.
