How to make friends in France

expat.com · 2008-11-20T09:08:06+01:00

Discover practical tips for making friends in France, connecting with locals and expats, and overcoming loneliness while living abroad.

expat.com Your favourite team

Member since 01 June 2008

The 禁漫天堂 teamShare your expat experience!

expat.comYour favourite team20 November 2008 07:08:06

8393

We have been talking about loneliness when you are abroad, let's now talk about how to make friends (locals and other expats) when you're living in France

Which are your best tips to meet people and to make friends in France??

Thanks in advance for your participation

Jo_Z Member

Member since 22 November 2008

Jo_ZMember22 November 2008 20:12:46

Hi! I'm french, but new in Paris (I've been living abroad for 2 years), I'd like to meet international expats so I suggest we get acquainted on this forum !
See ya!

johnnyjenga Member

Member since 07 December 2008

johnnyjengaMember07 December 2008 00:40:08

Pursue your hobbies and interests even if your fluency is not great. If you jog a little, enter a race. There's no easier way to meet healthy people than in a sport you enjoy. It's a natural point of conversation and no one is suspicious of someone in shorts and running shoes, climbing gear or a cycling helmet.

Just go for it.

Wedders Active member

Member since 28 October 2008

for fun, and to make ends meet!

WeddersActive member07 December 2008 07:16:44

johnnyjenga wrote:
Pursue your hobbies and interests even if your fluency is not great. If you jog a little, enter a race. There's no easier way to meet healthy people than in a sport you enjoy. It's a natural point of conversation and no one is suspicious of someone in shorts and running shoes, climbing gear or a cycling helmet.

Just go for it.

Good advice, getting involved as much as possible in the local community is at least as important as mixing with other expats. In fact in some ways seeing other expats can hamper integration - getting the balance right isn't always easy.

Jo Ann ViP

Member since 04 April 2006

Jo AnnViP07 December 2008 09:00:28

1548

Well, one thing is for sure. If you're not in a school, making friends in a university is pretty hard !

Kaphoen New member

Member since 15 December 2008

Kevin

KaphoenNew member15 December 2008 12:52:12

Join a forum like this one

mila New member

Member since 14 January 2009

milaNew member14 January 2009 13:28:16

Hihi .. good advice about jogging, i think i will try it

p.s. someone from french riviera in here maybe??

Wedders Active member

Member since 28 October 2008

for fun, and to make ends meet!

WeddersActive member15 January 2009 13:14:35

I'm currently in PACA too, but given your mention of the Riviera it would probably take a good week to jog down to you from the Vaucluse, in which case I would be unlikely to be good company by the time I got there!

mila New member

Member since 14 January 2009

milaNew member15 January 2009 16:24:32

Jep "little" too far from me
You've made some friends allready? And how long are you there?

taffy Member

Member since 23 January 2009

taffyMember23 January 2009 10:19:34

#10

Hello, I'm an expat who moved to lyon about 6 months ago, have two children and am looking for some companionship during the school days, is there anyone out there looking for the same?
taffy

japan Member

Member since 02 June 2009

japanMember02 June 2009 21:57:43

#11

Moving to France from US in summer 2010.聽 Any advice on nice but affordable places to live----prefer Paris, but field is pretty much open at this point.聽 Learning to speak French now.

Dedene New member

Member since 06 June 2009

DedeneNew member08 June 2009 16:06:55

#12

Absolutely volunteer and/or get involved in any activities you enjoy. People will be curious and ask you lots of questions. You will make acquaintances. As for real friends, that's slow going for French so be patient and be persistant.