It can be challenging to build new friendships in your host community. The process can sometimes feel lonely, especially when you are learning the language and don’t feel confident with your ability to communicate.
However, one of the greatest ways to learn a language is to speak with a friend you feel comfortable with – often, friends in your host community will be eager to help you learn and include you in activities that will help your language skills. Here are some things to keep in mind when making friends:
- Be friendly, take the initiative, and invite someone to join you in an activity.
- Accept invitations even if you are feeling shy.
- Try to get involved in various activities.
- Reflect on how relationships are formed in your new host culture,
- Connect with fellow AFSers who are going through similar experiences/challenges/victories, as you are.
- Don’t be afraid to take chances and share your culture/personality with those around you.
- Use whatever local language abilities you can.
- Don’t get discouraged. Remember, building friendships takes time and effort.
As we discussed in the Schools section, school and extracurricular activities will most likely be the center of your social life outside of your host family. Some participants may also find that attending religious services and related events are a good way to meet and spend time with new people.
Social networking sites can be a great tool for connecting with new friends. You can connect with people you met at school. Adding someone as a friend is a signal that you want to get to know them better, and it gives them an opportunity to know a little more about you. Just make sure you add only people you have met or already know. In addition, make sure you use this tool as a way of reaching out to people you know at school and as a way to make plans with them. Technology can do great things, but nothing replaces face-to-face interaction in building relationships!