Moving to a new city can be very challenging, leaving your friends and family behind can be a very hard thing to do. It can be frightening to think about going to a new city not knowing anyone or not having any friends.
I know it’s hard to walk into your new place of work or school and feel like the odd one out because you don’t know any of these people and they all know eachother. It can make you feel really lonely and sad because you once had what all of these people around you have now, friends by your side, laughing and making jokes.
It can also be hard to see families playing in the park knowing that your family isn’t with you in this difficult time in your life.
You can’t just go to work or school each day, not speak to anyone and then go home at the end of the day sitting alone for the rest of your evening. That can make you very depressed and you aren’t going to ever adjust to your new city.
In order to get used to your new surroundings and be happy with where you are, you need to explore and make some friends! If you don’t have the best people skills, here are some things you can do to make friends in your new town even if you’re shy.
1. Co-workers.
You have to spend a lot of time with the people you work with, so why not try and get to know them? If you work at a restaurant consider asking a few of them to stay for a drink or a dessert after work, your treat. Or you could ask them to have a cup of coffee with you sometime. If one of your coworkers talks to you, don’t give them one word answers and then turn away. Actually talk to them back. This is how you get to know a person, through communication. Eventually the conversations won’t be just about work.
2. Students at school.
Some say that you make your greatest friends in college, and they are the friends that last the longest. Even if you think it’s lame, ask the person that sits next to you how to do something or to borrow something such as a pencil even if you don’t need one. This is a good way to start a conversation with the people around you. You could also just make some comments such as “the homework last night was pretty easy!” there are many ways to get a conversation started and before you know it, you’ll be talking about more and more and than you’ll be hanging out outside of class.
3. Take different types of classes.
If you aren’t in college, you could always sign of to take some classes for cooking or sewing or learning to play a new instrument or speak a new language. There are many different classes that you can take to learn something new and meet new people.
4. Do some research on your new city.
Find out some of the popular hang out places in your new town. Remember that it’s okay to go places like this alone. You’re going there to meet new people, consider asking someone from work or school to go with you.
There are many ways you can meet new people and make new friends in a new city, you don’t have to be alone and you shouldn’t be. If you aren’t the best with conversation starting or you aren’t good at keeping a conversation going, do a quick internet search on good conversation starters or try and find books on how you can improve your people skills.
