How to Make Friends on a Dialogue
I went into this dialogue knowing nobody else, and I’ll admit that I was nervous about it. It is very intimidating walking into a room of strangers, most of whom are several years older than you. However, my first impression was proved wrong instantly when I began spending time with everyone. The biggest thing to remember when on a dialogue is that everyone else is looking for new friends as well. It feels like orientation week freshman year all over again. You’re in a strange new place with new people and it’s easy to forget that everyone is in the same boat as you.
Something that I have come to realize is that it is better to tell people that you’re going somewhere instead of just proposing it as an option. People are always looking to join in on already-made plans! Definitely make a point to go out as a full group a few times as well. It’s easy to make a small friend group and then ignore other potential friends. My trip moves to a different location every five days. Because of this, I cannot comment much on what to do in a more permanent housing situation. However, if your dialogue is like mine, make a point to not stay with the same roommate at every station, it’s good to branch out!
Make sure not to be on your phone all of the time. This is a great time to explore your surroundings, and you’ll probably miss out on some great conversations if your attention is elsewhere. Above all else, make sure that you’re having fun and doing activities that make you happy. Make the most of your fleeting time abroad, it’ll pass by faster than you can imagine!
