In today post we want to focus on the social aspect of living in Barcelona as an expat. How can you integrate into the community? How can you make friends?
*Written from a perspective of someone that has been in that same situation in another country: a Spanish girl living in Montana. Hope it might help American expats in Barcelona to meet new people (spoiler: she got lucky to meet beautiful people in the US). Also to whomever is living in Barcelona as an expat ;-)
1. Offer to teach English classes
After a few weeks living in Montana I decided to offer Spanish classes to whomever interested: I wrote a note and hung it on the University’s bulletin board. That is how I got to teach Spanish to a ten years old kid, who’s mum turned into my American mum over time. A beautiful family with whom I got lucky to build a strong bond for life. What am I trying to say beyond this personal anecdote of mine? Basically that teaching or learning new languages can lead you to meet new people. There are some groups or platforms for language exchange through which you can both learn and meet native people.
2. Roommates
This is a fundamental resource. You can become friends with your roommates and also you can get them to introduce you to their friends to expand your new friendship circle. If they happen to be Spanish that would be a plus, since you could dive into the Spanish culture through native people. Expat life in Barcelona at its finest!
3. Meetup groups
You might have heard of Meetup probably. In case you haven’t, Meetup is a platform in which you can join diverse activities to meet new people: from hiking the Pyrenees to joining a yoga session in a park in Barcelona. You will easily find fun activities which fit your interests.
4. If you are a freelancer: join a coworking space
Living in Barcelona as an expat? Also, as a freelancer expat? The solitude of the freelancer is a very approached topic. But what about the solitude of an expat freelancer? Coworkings got your back ;-) In Barcelona you will find many shared work spaces with freelancers from all over the world. The perks of living in a cosmopolitan city.
5. Expat communities
If you want to build your “comfort zone” while you live your expat experience, we suggest you join communities of American expats in Barcelona. Living the best adventure abroad also includes moments of homesickness and one of the cures to that is having people who makes you feel closer to home (or at least that is what I used to do).
6. Sign up for activities you really love
Something basic that you shouldn’t forget. Joining the soccer local team, trying a cuisine class, practicing a new sport that you like… Whatever your nerd interest is, try to make it a resource to meet people from your tribe also.
7. Don’t miss the chance to meet great people anywhere
This might sound vague, so let me illustrate it through another personal anecdote: I made a friend on the bus that I took every morning to school. The driver was learning Spanish and Spanish music was always on when she was driving. So the connection between us was instantaneous. Years later, she became one of the American expats in Spain.