Making friends in a student city like Sydney can be daunting, and sometimes terrifying too. Friends are our hope in a foreign land, to whom we can talk about anything, from lame jokes to serious conversations without worrying about being judged. We humans are social beings, and it is in our nature to make friends and socialize with others. If you are living in Sydney and are in search of tips to help you make friends and build a social network, then this article is for you. Keep reading to learn more.
How to Make Friends in Sydney and Build a Social Network?
Making friends in Sydney can sometimes be a cakewalk, and sometimes an uphill battle. It’s easy to find people but challenging to find those with the same sense of humor and understanding. You might find people of the same age group but not the same mindset. Can you build a friendship with someone who does not understand your jokes the way you do? Maybe you can but then you might have to adjust your ways according to your new buddy or social network.
To not let this happen, here are some simple tips that will surely help you make friends and build a social network in Sydney.
University and Social Events in Sydney
The most common and ideal way of making friends is to attend university and social events. Your first few weeks in Sydney will be the right time to make friends as during this time, universities organize multiple social events inside the campus. This allows freshers to meet and connect. If you are studying at the University of Sydney, you can check the university’s event calendar. The upcoming events are Seventeen, Sustainability Trail Tour, Bridges Inside October 2024 Discussion, Project Management Spring Camp, etc.
Leveraging Social Media and Online Platforms
It’s time for you to leverage your social media accounts and online platforms to connect you with like-minded people. Sydney is a modern city, and students there have multiple social media pages, where they organize regular meet ups, fabric swaps and social sewing in Sydney. If you have an Instagram account, you can follow the Sydney Social page named @sydney_sewcial and make friends.
Host a Dinner Party
A lot of students in Sydney host dinner parties at their accommodation. This is a perfect way to meet new people and have fun in the kitchen. You don’t have to be a perfect cook to host a dinner party in Sydney, for you always ask your cook or buy readymade meals and bake them in the oven. Eating and talking about yourself can be a great way to make friends. To make it interesting, you can cook your native cuisine and let your new friends know the taste of your land.
Live With Fellow Students in Sydney
Accommodations for students in Sydney allow you to live either in private apartments or shared rooms. The latter will offer you a more social environment as you will be living with other students. Such properties offer you access to communal areas, like kitchen, dining space, study rooms, etc. If you choose to live in a PBSA or co-living space, then these will offer you more social areas like gaming rooms, on-site gyms, daily social events, etc.
Tips to Overcome Challenges in Making Friends
We already highlighted this above that making friends in Sydney can be challenging. Challenging here means that there can be obstacles in your path, like language barriers, cultural differences, etc. But you just hang in there because we are here to help you overcome these challenges.
Addressing Language Barriers
Sydney has a diverse student population with over 40 percent of international students at the University of Sydney alone. And you know what, not everyone can speak English fluently. This makes communication difficult, especially when you want to become friends with someone. To bypass the language barrier, you can take online courses to improve your English proficiency, exchange language programs with native English speakers on platforms like Tandem or Meetup in Sydney.
Navigating Cultural Differences
Understanding and respect of cultural differences helps in creating a meaningful friendship in the diverse environment of Sydney. Be open to the differences, interested in finding out the customs and traditions of others by asking questions in a respectful manner. Educating yourself about local customs and social etiquette regarding things such as greetings and conversational norms will give you ease in interactions
Share insights on understanding and respecting cultural differences in social interactions.
Coping with Feelings of Isolation
It is natural to feel isolated when you’re living far from your family and friends. You might even feel homesick and in a state of worry. In times like this, you have to be brave as this too is an important part of your academic journey. You can easily overcome the feelings of isolation by connecting with your family and friends via video call, sharing memories, plans for the day, and jokes to make you laugh. In times like this, you must ensure not to sit idle. You can take a walk outside, grab a cup of tea, go for a run, or hit the gym.
Conclusion
Making friends and building a social network in Sydney can vary for each one of us. Some of us are introverts who do not easily mix with strangers, and some are extroverts, eager to meet new people and start a new phase of friendship. We have listed some of the best ways through which you can make new friends and build your own social network in Sydney. This will make your academic journey in Sydney memorable.
