Out of your comfort zone
Meeting new people and putting yourself out there is probably one of the hardest things to do. Some people find it easy peasy as they are outgoing and love meeting new people. On the other hand, there are people that move abroad that don't know how to make friends and go to events because they have had the same friends for as long as they can remember. It's also a lot harder when you move abroad because there might be a language barrier and people in different countries/cultures do things differently.I consider myself an outgoing person, but when it came to making friends here in Barcelona, I hadn't a notion where to start or what to do. I knew I would meet people through work but I find it important to also have mates outside of work.
I was told about 2 apps that have helped me a lot over here. The first one is `Bumble´. On this app, you can choose if your looking for dates, for people to network with or friends to meet for a coffee or drink. It's like Tinder where you swipe left or right to people you think are cool or have the similar interests. I have found some girls on Bumble BFF that I have gone for coffee with, a drink after work and even to a museum for a day out. Bumble BFF can be used in any country and it's a brilliant way to put yourself out there. Another app I use is `Meet Up´. This is mainly for events that are happening in the area you live in. It could range from Language exchanges, drinks with like-minded people, hiking retreats, gym groups and so much more.
Tadgh Reynolds has kindly written about his experiences of moving to the Big Apple and how he overcame the difficulites of meeting people there:
One of the most daunting and difficult aspects of moving to a foreign country on your own is the social aspect. Coming from a rural part of Ireland where everyone knew everyone, I always thought I was an outgoing, social person. Once I moved to New York City where I knew one person out of 12 million, I soon realised I was not as outgoing as I first thought. 9 months later, I still struggle with this but there are a few approaches which I have found to be effective in meeting like minded people.
Networking events: The best way to meet people with similar interests to you is through networking events. For me, I attended events that were focused on digital marketing, which is the career path I am taking in New York. I soon met other people in the same boat as me, who had moved to pursue a successful career. This does not need to be career focused, however. In all major cities, they have events for every kind of interest. Going on your own the first time can be tough, but after 1 event you will make connections who will be at the next event, and it gets easier each time.
LinkedIn: LinkedIn was the most effective app to help with my move to New York. You can search for people working in the same industry as you, who might be from the same place as you, and who might have mutual connections. I would spend evenings reaching out to people on LinkedIn who I thought could be a great connection to have, and would ask them to meet for a coffee some evening.
The Irish always find each other: Lastly, I have noticed since moving here that Irish people always have a way of finding each other. Whether it is from meeting someone at an Irish bar or from overhearing their accent on the metro, we always manage to find plenty of new Irish friends. We have a great tendency to help each other out, as we all know exactly how challenging the initial move to a big city can be.
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