When coming to a foreign country, especially if coming alone, making new friends is one of the first things we all think about.  The most important thing to remember is that we are all in the same boat, so there is no need to worry, as everyone will be feeling exactly the same. However, there are a few things that you can do, to make it a little easier to meet new people, and start making new friends.

Language Exchanges

Language exchanges are available all over the world, so it’s no surprise that London has a lot of them to offer. These language exchanges are a great way of meeting new people, who can completely identify with your situation, as they know what it’s like to be learning a foreign language.

After finding an exchange partner, going and meeting in a cafe and talking over coffee- or whatever your drink preference is- can be a great way to practice speaking in your foreign language. With correspondence and text/ voice chat exchanges also available, you can even start getting to know your exchange partner before you arrive. This way, it will feel like you already have a friend here.

Get Involved – Clubs and Associations

With London having so much to offer, you will never be stuck for something to do. Whether you are interested in drama, singing, comedy or whatever else, London has clubs and associations to suit everyone. Joining clubs, such as these, is a great way to meet people who share your interests.

Sports

In London there are many sports on offer. Typical sports range from cricket, the national sport, to football, rugby and tennis. Joining a sport club is a great way of meeting people, and comes with the added bonus of helping you to keep fit.

If physical sports aren’t your thing, there are also many gyms and leisure centres that offer classes in yoga, pilates and aerobics, and, these too, are great ways to meet people.

Should the idea of sweating it out on the field or in the gym, not appeal to you, then why not train your brain, and go to a pub quiz instead. This is the perfect way to really put your general knowledge to the test.

Classmates

One of the most obvious places to begin making new friends is in the classroom. With everyone there for the same purpose, it couldn’t be easier to find someone with similar interests. Everyone will be feeling exactly the same and having the exact same worries, so don’t be shy; after all, all the very best of friendships have often all started with a “hello” and a smile.

I had never been out of Brazil before coming to London. People used to classify me as crazy. A lot. But I didn’t care, all I thought was: I’ll be free. Free from myself. Weird, right? But, that was exactly what I thought. I would get rid of this person that people had always known as, me. Because, the truth is: you are known as what society thinks of you. And for society back where I come from, I am “the daughter”, “the sister” and “the granddaughter”. I wasn’t just a girl. The thing is, I didn’t know that the freedom would come at a prize. Not money or any material thing, but, tears, loneliness, emptiness.

I got here completely on my own, no friends, no family, no acquaintances, no one. At first, it was overwhelming. Living and sharing experiences with complete strangers. They didn’t know anything about me, most of them still don’t know. However, it was and it still is, everything I ever thought it would be: amazing. It’s like I’m a completely new person, a free one. Free from all the things that used to stop me from doing everything I thought wasn’t appropriate.

The thing the made all the difference was my school. At The English Studio I learned and I am still learning almost everything that I need to know about London, the English language, British culture, places to visit and experiences. It was here that I made my new friends, that I found my flat and, most important, it is because of my brilliant teacher Mike Mooney my English has improved considerably. It’s here that I learn new and exciting things everyday, especially with my adorable and so well educated teacher.

I still get shocked sometimes; I blame my “small town mentality”. But, after a minute or two, I get used to the idea, and sometimes even start applying it to my own life.

I used to cry everyday when I got here. I used to call my dad and say that I wanted to go home, that this was too much for me. That I would never love London, and that everything here was backwards. From the way they drive to the plug (I still have to use the adaptor to use my hair-dryer).

People used to say to give it some time, that London would eventually get me and in 3 months I would start loving it. And so it happened. Of course, with a lot of tears, phone calls, and family support, but here I am: loving every minute of it, free from all the pre-conceptions people would build in their minds the minute I’d introduce myself by saying my last name and free from all the assumptions.

Now I can really say that I’m truly living the “London experience”, and The English Studio and everybody that I met there is a really big part of this little part of my life.

Mariana Shayeb

Every single person that you meet in this city will stay with you forever, no matter how close you are, every slightest detail will be remembered: a stupid joke, a funny comment or even the strange way that some people cook rice over here (why did I mention this?).

I went for a stroll around my neighbourhood yesterday. I could still remember my friend saying: “You are gonna love this place, it’s SO you!” She was right, I am completely in love with this area. To tell you the truth, I moved here by accident, one week later I found out that this was the place that my friend constantly talked about.

Last week was a tough week. The same friend who gave me tips about places to live, who has been my ally through the daily battle of living here as a student, is about to leave me. I do not want to sound over-sentimental here, she is not dying (knock, knock, knock!) or anything, she is just moving to a different school and we are not going to be able to study together anymore (an incomprehensible power, beyond human nature has lead her to a divergent path). After so long sharing the same space, having fun and wanting to kill each other, this change will probably make me feel as if I no longer belong to that place.

I guess this is life, or at least, it is what people say. Sometimes you will find some people who, despite the cultural differences, will amazingly become part of you and share your hopes and disbeliefs, someone that can be as hopeless as you are. The scariest thing is that, being from different parts of the world, you may not be able to see these friends ever again in your life.

Sorry for being so pessimist, I AM going to mention that after all, every good or bad moment that you spend with your friends is very precious and this is what friendship is about. Last week was just a tough one.

Yumi/ Japan