When you make the move abroad, one of the biggest concerns for most people is often whether or not they will make friends when they relocate. Leaving behind a family and extended social circle can be heart-wrenching and will often put to test even the strongest relationships or familial ties. What you have to remember when you're making the move is that you will naturally take time to settle in, but once you do, there are numerous possibilities available to you to make friends and start all over again.
Starting with a Clean Slate
One of the advantages of moving abroad is that you have the opportunity to completely start again. There are no broken promises, strained bond of friendship or any other negative past history to deal with in your new location. For many this can be stressful, but the best way of dealing with it is to think of it as a positive new start. Not many people have the opportunity to reinvent themselves or their lives, but by moving abroad you're gifted this chance. Leaving behind old ways and even old friends can often open up an entirely new world to you and you may be surprised at rediscovering yourself.
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When you settle into your new life, one of the most common ways to meet new people is to meet them through your workplace. Many countries actively encourage people to meet socially outside of work with other co-workers. There are a variety of advantages to making friends in the workplace. You will obviously share a genuine interest and will understand any benefits or negative aspects of your job. Working similar hours will allow you to enjoy similar working patterns and arranging after work social events is much simpler. Aside from all of these points, making friends with workmates is just a very easy option when you're new to a country. They can prove to be valuable sources of information, and local customs, as well as leading you to meet other people whom you may want to meet socially. Embrace invitations to outings or weekend social events when you're invited to them. Turning down invitations more than once may lead to you not being asked again and may ruin any chances of developing friendships with people you may enjoy spending time with.
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Meeting Friends Online
Many people are concerned with the thought of meeting new friends online due to the negative press that online meetings often gather. If you can look positively at the prospect of meeting new friends online, you'll be amazed at just how many opportunities there are to do so. There are a variety of websites that specifically cater to the ex-pats community. Simply typing 'expats' into a search engine such as Google will return plenty of websites that feature people in similar situations to you. A particularly prominent site is British Expats, a site that exists to provide a variety of information to expats, including social meetings and those looking for companionship in their new location abroad.
Social Groups Abroad and Making Friends
When you move abroad, why not seek out local social groups that focus on interests you had before you left. You may find that there are groups for English expats, Scottish groups, Irish groups and other similar social gatherings. Also, if you support a particular football team, you may find that there are local groups who meet regularly to support the team and watch broadcasts together. If you enjoy other activities, why not join some local groups and take part in some of their events. You may find that although there are few expats there, you will become friends with locals and be welcomed into their social circle. People are generally very accepting of newcomers and often want to introduce them to new customs and ways of life. The trick is to accept invitations and step outside your comfort zone - doing so just may make you some great new friends and help you settle into your new life abroad.
I left the UK at nineteen in '69 and have lived and worked in Australia for all that time. I am an Australian but have access to British passport and would dearly love to return and spend my twilight years in the land of my birth. My wife died some sixteen years ago and my five children have since married and gone their separate ways so I see little of them or my grandchildren. I emigrated on my own so all of my extended family still live over there who I've been in fairly regular touch over the last half century. Does anyone see any major issues or obstacles that may prevent me from realising my dream or should I just go for it?
After experiencing financial difficulties he has no choice but to return to the UK. He has 4 children who will be coming back all of which hold expired British passports.
What is the process he will need to foresee and what happens when he arrives? He has no body in the UK to help.
What do I do now?
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