With the same interests. And especially for when you’re abroad.
Summer is heading our way and the travel itch needs a scratch. Well, at least mine does. As a solo traveller I have explored many places and even lived in quite a few. England, France, Germany (twice) and Austria have all been countries I have called home. To be honest I still call them home. I left a piece of myself there, but I also gained beautiful experiences that I have taken with me and brought along on the journey called life.
Culture, languages and architecture all have something in common: people. Sometimes I take a moment to really think about it. How did a tradition start? How many times was something said before it became (part of) the language? Why do the buildings look a specific way?
I keep this in mind when travelling and when meeting people. Because it matters, it shapes many people and their view on things. And I think that’s wonderful!
Meeting people abroad can be a challenge and to be honest that is a good thing. You’re not from the same place, area or country. Where certain manners are disrespectful it might be considered polite in other countries. If you keep this all in mind when meeting new people, but you are still wondering how to meet people when you are travelling or moving somewhere new… Then let me give you some tips on how you can meet new people abroad!
Fellow tourists and locals. Tips that go beyond staying in the same hostel. No, I will take it up a notch. This is what I have done to meet new people and many of them are still in my life.
Follow influencers/(niche) social media pages
One of my closest friends is from the States. We met through a booktuber who we both followed and who happened to be in Berlin and organised a picnic on a whim. Both me and my friend also happened to be in Berlin for a vacation. My friend and I met at that park and stayed in contact ever since. This year we celebrate 10 years of friendship! Of course we did it in style by travelling to London and visiting bookstores together and many more things.
Do you understand how many things had to go right for us to meet all those years ago?
Nevertheless, that is the beauty of travelling. You can meet many people around the globe and be connected to that one thing. It can be an interest or an influencer you both follow. It’s mostly very specific why you both follow that page on the internet. And when an event gets organised, it’s the perfect way to meet fellow people.
Concert meet up
Have I ever met up with someone I knew for years on the internet, but never met in real life to go to a concert with? The answer is YES. Please, be careful! Both me and the other person knew and verified the other person before we took this step.
Back to the fun, it’s quite normal in certain online music spaces to have a second social media page dedicated to music. I have one too and I have either met up with people at concerts or I went and did the whole concert experience with them together. That particular time we had VIP tickets and stayed in an Airbnb closeby. It was nice to have someone the next day, okay basically all night, to talk about the concert.
You can also do it without socials. During the last Laufey concert I met first with some people in the metro, but in the end I kept in touch with someone who, just like me, stood in the VIP line. It was nice to chat with someone before the concert, get the goodiebag and merch together and grab drinks.
Follow cultural centers, museums, and shops within your area of interest
That way, you easily stay up to date on events, and meet people there. It will not always be a success, like that time I went to a party at a museum and danced and looked at the art on my own. But I met new people every time I visited the Korea Kulturzentrum in Vienna. One time I went in for a concert and other times for workshops. These were all free by the way!
I like studying culture, the Korean language and history, so I already had fun just being there. Meeting new people was the cherry on top.
Some things I can think of that can come out by following cultural centers, museums, and shops within your area of interest:
– listening sessions/album releases in music stores
– K-pop birthday cafés
– small concerts
– book release parties / booktours / other bookevents
– workshops
– many more things, especially if you have a specific interest (because I am very much aware how all these specific tips are inline with my interests, but please see them as inspiration)
Join a gym/art/cooking/language class
I love learning and doing new things. These kinds of classes are amazing for getting out of your head and just doing and while doing (or after) you automatically have something to chat about with the people around you.
Just talk to people in a museum or bookstore
Scary, I know! So the time I went to a party in a museum in Vienna was a bust in regards to meeting new people, but that time I went to Rijsmuseum in Amsterdam I met two lovely ladies. I asked them for directions in Dutch only to find out they were tourists from abroad.
I honestly regretted not asking for their Instagram, only to find out the two friends had the same regret! Luckily, even though the museum is big, we met again and again! We exchanged Insta’s the second time we met and found out we had the same museum plans for the next day. So we met up at the Van Gogh Museum the next day to explore it together.
Just remember…
You and the other person/people are all human beings. We all look for company and someone to chat with. Even if sometimes things don’t go the way you hoped, don’t worry about it, the next time around you will meet someone. Just keep in mind that friends come into your life in different ways and some leave soon while others stay.
My friend from the USA and I who I met all those years ago in Berlin, she is a friend for life. But there have been other friends who I only spend time with at a specific moment. People come and go since we are not bound to one state of mind, and how lovely is that!
Love,
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