Even if you’ve traveled extensively overseas, studying in the United States, the United Kingdom, or another nation can be scary. Your capacity to form a network of friends and acquaintances in this new chapter of your life is one of the most significant things that will make your academic experience abroad memorable. So, how do you make friends as an international student? Fortunately, the prospect of making new friends at university appears to be good. Here are four suggestions to assist overseas students in socializing and adjusting to university life.
Take a tour of your college campus
There are likely many international students on campus who are just as overwhelmed as you are. Connect with them through the International Students Office (ISO), which hosts activities and programs to assist international students in adjusting to campus life and participating in the university’s many groups. Immerse yourself in the activities offered by campus associations and groups depending on your interests, hobbies, and causes. Almost anything has a club or group for it–sports, social service, mentoring, dance, music, movies, etc.
Get to Know Your City
Studying abroad is about gaining new academic experiences and widening your horizons. Take advantage of this opportunity to know more about your neighborhood, community, and state. Volunteering your time and skills on projects is a terrific opportunity to meet people outside of school. Meetup.com and other similar sites can help you connect with people who share your interests. Your Facebook and Instagram pages might also help you identify suggested events in your region. Become a member of a reading club or an adventure group. Go for a hike. Sign up for yoga lessons. Take part in heritage tours and walks with a guide. The options are limitless! Informal jobs, such as babysitting or tutoring, is another fantastic opportunity to meet people in your community. Local Indian families may be interested in hiring you to introduce their children to Indian traditions and language or to help them revise their arithmetic!
Maintaining Contact
Keep in touch with the people you meet once you’ve made new relationships. Be proactive, whether it’s on social media or over a cup of coffee (without being too pushy, that is). And, if someone invites you to something, accept it (if it fits into your schedule)! Developing lasting friendships and connections takes time and effort. For example, suppose you reside in student accommodation houses in Sheffield or student studios in Coventry; in that case, there are high chances of you making allies with the other students of various colleges living there. It is an excellent means to create friendships and build networks.
Know what you’re doing
 Keep up with current happenings by reading local news. Being knowledgeable about various topics–politics, sports, culture, and the economy–can help you better grasp the culture and thaw the ice when meeting new people. It will also help you apply for internships and jobs if you are well-informed. Most crucial, keep an optimistic outlook. People respond to attentive and cheerful people!
Establish your ties with your lecturers
It’s not just about making friends in socialization; it’s also about forming solid and formal relations. It would be ideal if you maintained good contact with your university lecturers. They can help you deal with life pressures that aren’t always academic and provide educational suggestions. When you are away from home, you may miss the guidance of more experienced humans. These teachers have been where you are and can assist you in dealing with life as an international student, both professionally and personally.
University is all about new experiences and the opportunity to meet individuals from many walks of life (especially if you’re studying abroad). So, get out there and start doing things a little out of your comfort zone. Windsurfing, yoga, ballroom dancing, volunteering, or simply saying ‘hello!’ and asking ‘how’s your day been?’ are excellent options. Also, join the football team, enroll in a cooking class, or attend a Viking Society meeting! Students are a gregarious bunch, and you’ll be astonished at how quickly you may make lifelong friends if you give yourself a push.
Settling into college is as exciting as settling into a new home. But, once you find a college to go to, you need to find yourself a home away from home to stay! With amber, you can find accommodations that suit your needs worldwide. So check out our website, Facebook, and Instagram pages and get your perfect home away from home.