If you are planning to travel alone and settle in a new country, you have probably made a list of all the important things you need to think about when you arrive: finding accommodation, a bank, insurance, etc. However, meeting people might not be on your list but is still essential. Here are some tips on how to make friends abroad and even before you leave!
Joining online groups to make new friends abroad
There are plenty of online groups for meeting new people.
Firstly, you will find the generalized sites where expatriates write about their experiences. You can comment on publications and ask questions. This will allow you to start a discussion with them.
You can also find more specialised groups where you can meet people with the same interests as you. Here are some examples:
- To meet new people and, why not, organize weekend getaways with new people, you can find the group Going out / parties / good plans PVTISTES Canada ?
- Are you a girl and would you like to meet other girls? The Facebook group sorties entre elles MontrƩal will allow you to meet women who have lived the same expatriation experience as you and who will welcome you with open arms.
For the more sporty, there are a lot of Facebook groups dedicated to organising sports activities, both as a team and individually. For example, you can find a partner to play tennis with or join a team of outdoor or indoor football players.
Again, don't hesitate to talk to some people before you arrive. You will be able to make friends with them and arrange meetings as soon as you arrive.
The Mapl community
Maplr's aim is to support you throughout your expatriation process, and this obviously includes your integration on the ground!
If you've been following Maplr for a while (you need to stop hesitating and pack your bags?), you've probably noticed that we've already accompanied several Maplrs in their expatriation. These people are part of our network and, once you've taken the plunge āļø, they'll be part of yours!
The Maplr community is a real network of mutual support and brings together people who have decided to move to Canada.
Even before you arrive, we will put you in touch with the Maplrs so that you can introduce yourself and start a conversation. We hold regular events between Maplrs and their families to build relationships and new friendships. This is a great way for you to make friends when you arrive.
Meet your work colleagues
In Canada, it is customary to organise what is called a 5 to 7. This is actually the Quebec expression for "Afterwork". Why 5 to 7? Simply because it's an after-work drink, usually held from 5:00 to 7:00 pm (or later for the more adventurous).
17:00 seems early to you? And yet! The pace of life in Canada is very different.
If you're interested, we discuss the pace of life in Montreal in this article.
Another tip is to get to know your future colleagues before you start work. Simply connect with them via LinkedIn and start a conversation. This way, you won't be a complete stranger when you join the company.
Making new friends abroad by organising or participating in meetups
A meetup is a gathering of people with a common interest. In other words, you meet people at themed events to share your common interests and make new connections. It is a good way to make friends abroad.
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The meetup application
Do you know the meetup application? If you are a fan of meetup events, you should be interested! It will allow you to meet people while doing the activities you like!
There are a multitude of groups with a purely social purpose, such as meetup events in bars, game rooms, hiking... But also with a professional purpose, such as groups to learn a new language, help each other with IT projects, etc. Find your meetup!
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Technical meetup events
Depending on your technical skills, you will always find a meetup related to the technology in question. Each community usually has an associated Slack/discord. This is a great way to network and meet new people.
Some technical meetups in Montreal:Ā
- The Montreal Java User Group (JUG) : is a community around the JAVA ecosystem that meets monthly to exchange ideas and discuss technological advances. The meetings are free, open to all and consist of a technical presentation, a product demonstration or a round table discussion.
- Devops Montreal : This group is for anyone interested in the Devops movement and the digital transformation of companies. All levels are welcome.
- Agile Montreal: This group is for anyone who practices or wants to develop their agile practice in business in areas as varied as project management, people management, strategy, innovation, leadership development or operations agilisation.
- Vue Montreal : Group for anyone interested in VueJS. The meetings aim to learn about Vue.js in one way or another: through presentations or by helping each other.
Learn a new language and make new friends
Your goal is to create a circle of English-speaking friends to improve your English level? There are applications that will allow you to meet English-speaking people. A great way to make friends abroad while improving your level of English (or another language).
Generally, these applications work on the basis of a knowledge exchange: someone teaches you a language and you teach your native language to the other person.
Here are some examples of applications: HelloTalk, Speaky, Tandem, mylanguageexchange...
Discover the game bars
Are you a fan of board games? Then game bars are for you! It's a concept that is developing more and more: meet new people by playing board games (role playing games, Pictionary, murder mysteries, etc.).
In Montreal, there are several of them and they are as atypical as each other. here is a small selection.
Doing volunteer work
Another great way to meet new people while supporting a cause you care about is to volunteer.
There are lots of associations where you can give your support. This is a great way to find friends with whom you share the same humanitarian goals and interests.
Find the different volunteer centers in Montreal and its surroundings: I volunteer.
Registering on dating sites
Learn the basics of Quebec language
Finally, if you are going to a foreign country, the first thing to do is to learn the basics in the local language. If you come to Quebec, this will be easier since French is the main language. In this case, the best advice we can give you is to familiarise yourself with Quebec expressions!
To train you, here is a site which gathers several of them ?Ā
Believe me, it saves a lot of misunderstandings!