Making Connections: Building Friendships Abroad - Tips and personal stories about forming friendships while studying abroad
Making connections: Building Friendships abroad.
A semester abroad is a great way to explore a new culture, travel, and make new memories—and friends! After all, sharing an experience like this with a friend doubles the joy and can lead to unforgettable bonds. So, let’s jump right in! In this blog post, I will be sharing some tips and personal stories on building connections while abroad.
Game Night and Get Together: A casual Meetup to play Werewolf and chat away
To get the obvious out of the way—be open to making new connections, approach people, and engage socially. Whether that’s through your current living situation (flatmates, neighbors, etc.), classes, extracurricular activities, sports, the pub, or anywhere else, putting yourself out there is key.
It’s important to step out of your comfort zone and be ready to try new things—and what better way to do that than with new friends? By studying and living abroad, we’ve already taken a big step outside our usual environment. So why not take it further? As international students, we all understand the challenges of adjusting to a completely new setting. The fact that we’re all in the same situation can make it easier to connect and relate to one another.
Getting to know the locals is just as fun, and here’s where one (true!) stereotype about Irish people comes in handy: The Irish are very friendly and always up for a chat!
Just one thing to keep in mind—it’s important to be aware of cultural differences. A little understanding and open conversation can go a long way. Judging situations solely from your own cultural perspective won’t do you any good—it can lead to misunderstandings that could easily be avoided. But never let cultural differences stop you from making new friends. Just because something is different doesn’t mean it’s wrong. In fact, cultural exchange is incredibly enriching and can add great value to a friendship.
At the Hurling match: A group of international students at the match.
So far, I’ve had a wonderful time with the new friends I’ve made here! Group activities or meet-ups are always a great way to spend time together, enjoy each other’s company, and learn more about one another. This weekend, for example, we went to the Limerick vs. Tipperary hurling match. It was a fantastic way to experience Irish culture, and we had so much fun. Making new experiences with friends makes them even more enjoyable and memorable.
And it doesn’t even have to be a big event—simple get-togethers for chats, games, or movie nights are just as fun and can create lasting memories. Definitely give it a go!
Cultural Exchange Night: Exchanging and sharing cultural foods and recipes.
So, take every opportunity to make your time abroad as amazing as possible, sharing these good times with equally good company! Whether it’s meeting up, going to events or games, heading out, or traveling through Ireland together, there are endless opportunities to build lasting connections!
by Annemarie Menche, Germany
