How to make friends in France

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8393POSTS

17 years ago

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

See also

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Jo_Z Member

1POSTS

17 years ago

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

1POSTS

17 years ago

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

47POSTS

17 years ago

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

1548POSTS

17 years ago

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

Kaphoen New member

8POSTS

17 years ago

Join a forum like this one

mila New member

6POSTS

17 years ago

Hihi

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

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

Wedders Active member

47POSTS

17 years ago

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

6POSTS

17 years ago

Jep

"little" too far from me

You've made some friends allready? And how long are you there?

taffy Member

13POSTS

17 years ago

#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

1POSTS

16 years ago

#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

7POSTS

16 years ago

#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.