Saturday, January 14, 2017

Where To Find An American Friend In Paris

By Martha Moore


It is reassuring to find a person you share a language, culture, interests, etc in a foreign city. This gives you a feeling of home and an assurance that you will not be lonely. This is what happens when you find an American friend in Paris. Many people hope and expect this when they land at the airport, but it is never that easy and straightforward. What can you do to increase your chances of meeting new friends here?

Join a church that ministers in English. Churches may sound like a place for the religious but this is not always the case. There are churches that offer interdenominational services with no requirement that you adhere to their doctrines. Being a member of the congregation gives you a chance to join their choir, participate in professional groups, charity activities, martial arts, etc. Essentially it is not for religious indoctrination but healthy socialization.

Major political parties have forums outside US that bring together their adherents in different cities. France has very active republican and democrats groups. They engage in civic education, early voting, voter mobilization and all night out parties to watch release of election results. Joining such a forum allows you to meet Americans living near you, share experiences and know more about France.

Look for English activities in Paris. There are forums that advertise activities for English speakers in different cities. These activities include dog walking, hiking, professional gathering, therapy, etc. These events are frequent and distributed in cities around France. Most of them are held over weekends when you are free. You spend time with people who share a language and thus have a good time sharing experiences.

Have you ever considered personal development and fitness activities like dancing or yoga? This could be the time to consider that. You may also opt to join the French language classes in your neighborhood. You are guaranteed that the people learning French must be from other countries. Such personal development forums introduce you to great people who will enrich your social life. After all, these people share the same interests as you do like dancing, language, yoga, etc.

Join your university alumni group in the French capital. This is common for globally recognized universities that have alumni offices in major world cities. They post events on their websites to attract attention from former students. By attending their activities, you stand a chance to interact with former classmates, juniors and seniors in your department. As you catch up, you will learn the restaurant that serves excellent foods, nice places to visit, etc.

Go to social media. There are forums for Americans in different cities. Connect with them and follow the activities coming up near you. You may also consider visiting the American embassy in Paris. It gives you interesting events organized by the state and other actors for residents of the city. Their reports are comprehensive since the embassy supports the groups and organizations planning such activities.

Having a friend to watch the super bowl with, discuss politics, follow global politics, etc is the most incredible experience you will get as a foreigner. Though the internet provides this opportunity, you need to get out of the house and meet the people. You will enjoy your stay in France and carry the best memories home.




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