Moving to a new city can be daunting. And it can be even more daunting if that city is in a totally different country. There’s a whole new life to figure out. You have to find the nearest grocery, a new gym, new favourite restaurants. And then of course there’s the hardest part – how to make friends when you move.
I count myself lucky because my family moved a lot when I was a child. Every three year until I was in middle school, we moved to a new city in a new state. At the time I might not have seen it, but this gave me a ton of skills for making new friends.
In late 2017, Jon and I made the biggest move of our life. We left New York City with eight suitcases and started a new life in Amsterdam. That meant adjusting to not only a new city, but a new language and new social customs.
After more than a year abroad, I’ve found myself a really great group of friends. Below I’m sharing tips for how to make friends when you move. Whether you’re an expat in a new country or just moving cities within the same state, these tips will help you to find a new social circle.
Xx, Kelsey
HOW TO MAKE FRIENDS WHEN YOU MOVE
Make friends at work – This one only works if you have an office job, but it’s likely the easiest way to make friends. If you’re already being thrown together all day, five days a week, why not get to know each other? One of my best friends came up to me my first week of work in New York and just started chatting my ear off. Even after switching jobs, we remained super close.
Use social media – Believe it or not, I met the majority of my friends in Amsterdam through Instagram. And I still get messages to meet new people for coffee. If you’re interested in meeting new people in your city, search out others using local hashtags or the location tool on IG. My hashtag, #americaninamsterdam gets me so many messages from new American expats.
Join a group or club – It’s easy to make friends when you’re grouped together with people who have similar interests. If you’re into soccer, join a local after-work league. Or go try some new workout classes. Just don’t be afraid to talk to someone while you’re there. If you just dip in and out, you definitely won’t make new friends.
Try Bumble BFF – To be honest, I ended up having to delete this app because I ended up with too many social engagements to keep up with. It can feel a little weird to swipe on other women at first, but remember that you’re all just there to find someone with similar interests.
Leverage your connections – Especially as an expat, you’d be surprised how many people end up knowing someone who lives in your city. Don’t be afraid to reach out and ask if anyone knows people living in your city. And even if you meet someone local, don’t be afraid to ask them if they know anyone else. It can be surprising where connections and networking will lead you.
