Life and Style Section: Finding friends on the year abroad by

finding friends on the year abroad

We’re told so many things before Year Abroad: How to choose the modules, where to find accommodation, or how to get our visa (sometimes). Rightly so, as these are all crucial to even getting to the country in the first place. However, there’s one thing that always slips our minds. How do you make friends once you get there? Making friends can be difficult anyway, but a different country with different customs, and occasionally a different language can compound it. I too, had that problem. I hope the following tips can help you make the most of your Year Abroad, as one thing I learnt while in Grenoble was that the people you meet make your Year Abroad!

Tip 1, Welcome week:

Like UoB, most universities abroad have welcome weeks to help integrate students into university life. This is where a lot of my friends were made and friendship groups were formed, so I’d definitely recommend getting stuck in straight away before the semester starts! For example, at the university I went to (UGA, Université Grenoble Alpes) there were not only events organised by the uni themselves, but also by a student group. One worry I had was that the clubs would be very much club/party orientated, but I found that this wasn’t the case. The advantage of such events is that you’re able to find people with similar hobbies to have. From hiking tours to international picnics, there was something for everyone, and there’ll definitely be something for you too! Tip 2, have a look out for groups:

What do I mean by this? Well, any groups associated with the uni or the city you’re staying in. Note that these aren’t necessarily affiliated with your accommodation or uni, so be prepared to do some digging! I’d recommend posting on the group with your interests and the subject(s) you’re studying and see what happens! For example, I ended up in a group chat with some others who wanted to play football for the semester and was also in a group chat with other Erasmus students, some of whom I’m still great friends with now!

Tip 3, language exchanges/buddy systems:

This is a great way to kill two birds with one stone, as you’re able to practise your language skills while making friends at the same time! English is such a popular language for exchange, so you shouldn’t have any problems in that respect! A buddy system is a similar concept, which pairs you with a 3rd or 4th year student who does similar/the same subjects as you and has experience with the way the university works. This can help you settle in and is a stepping stone to making friends with your other classmates. My buddy recommended several great restaurants to me and was really helpful to me regarding the lesson formats in the faculty.

Tip 4, Go for it!

So this seems really simplistic, not even really a tip, but honestly it’s easier said than done. You often have to plan around a budget, for example. However, I would say going for it really helped me enjoy my Year Abroad experience to the full! Sometimes I had to bite the bullet and chat to people, and great friendships were formed because of it. Some of the best experiences I had were just pushing the boat out a little. Try stuff you’ve never done before, get to know people and try to get out of your comfort zone, because while one semester really does whizz by, you want it to whizz by with some great company!

Matthew Cassidy