How to meet people in a new city: 6 tips for socializing

Arriving in a new city and knowing how to adapt to an unfamiliar urban environment is always a challenge. However, something that we often overlook is that when we change cities, we not only move to another place; We also went to live with other people.

Therefore, knowing how to meet people in a new city is important; Being able to have a circle of friends and acquaintances, or even someone with stronger love ties, is part of the adaptation process that will allow us to enjoy a normal life.

Therefore, in this article we will see a series of recommendations and advice about how to meet people in a new city; specific habits and actions that will allow us to come into contact with groups of people with whom we may have a lot in common.

• Related article: "How to make friends and deepen your relationships, in 7 steps"

How to meet people in a new city?

Follow these tips to expand your network of friends and regular contacts wherever you go, something very useful when moving or going to another city to work or study for a few months.

1. Take into account the language factor

If we are going to live in another city, the first thing is to anticipate and find out about If in that place they speak a language that we do not know. In some cases we may be surprised to discover that in addition to the one we already master, in that region there are other minority languages ​​but with many speakers.

In this case, starting to learn even the basics of it is very useful to meet new people: shows interest in local culture and it helps us to know the social complexity of the territory.

2. Get rid of prejudices

Many times, the fame of a region or city precedes it, so that when we enter that region, we perceive what happens there judging everything. from stereotypes and prejudices that we have internalized

Although these types of beliefs about the inhabitants of a city may seem harmless or just minor details, they are not. they are not at all, since without our realizing it they can make us fall into biases that are offensive or revealing of our ignorance.

Little unfortunate comments, in turn, can make others cling to their stereotypes about us as outsiders as well; after all, no one is free to be guided from time to time by prejudices; what we must do is minimize the chances that they constantly express themselves, focusing on what we share with others (wherever they are from).

3. Take advantage of the Internet

Far from being a machine to encourage people to isolate themselves in their rooms, as is often implied, The Internet is a tool capable of making us meet people with whom we have a lot in common, regardless of where we are. let's live.

If we add to that the fact that it is increasingly common for them to appear virtual meeting points for the inhabitants of a city, we will see that social networks, forums and certain web pages are a good place to meet people in a new city before or after moving.

For example, you can search for Facebook groups of people your age who live in the neighborhood you've moved to, hobbyists who live near you, etc.

4. Attend cultural events

Cultural events have their raison d'être to facilitate the generation of contacts between the inhabitants of an area; that is promote social cohesion.

Music festivals, book clubs, talent shows, fairs... Any of these events take place in a festive atmosphere that encourages joining groups of people who have a conversation.

5. Bet on honesty

If you think about it, the fact of moving to a new city makes it much more understandable and easy to understand starting a conversation with someone you don't know or introducing yourself to a cluster; You just have to say that this city is new to you and you don't know anyone or hardly anyone. Just revealing that information, it will probably be others who adopt a friendly bias and help you make friends.

Of course, keep in mind the cultural factor. In some areas, for various reasons, outsiders are mistrusted, although in most medium-sized or large cities in Western countries this is not the case.

6. Practice assertive communication

Working on assertiveness in your communication style is very important; if you express your interests and opinions directly, without doing it as if that were something that generates awkward moments and embarrassing, you will have a much easier time connecting with the people who live in the new city. It is about treating your ideas, interests and opinions with the same respect with which you treat those of others.

Part of the process of meeting people is to create situations in which everyone feels comfortable, and to do this It is important not to be predisposed that any error or imperfection in communication is seen as a humiliation.

Bibliographic references:

• Hurelmann, K. and Bauer, U. (2018) Socialization During the Life Course. London/New York: Routledge.
• Patricia A. Duff, Nancy H. hornberger. 2010. Language Socialization: Encyclopedia of Language and Education, Volume 8. Publisher Springer.