How To Make Friends In Italy
It can sometimes be challenging to relocate to a foreign country, particularly when attempting to establish friends and assimilate into the local culture. However, it may be relatively simple to get by in Italy with little contact with the local population due to the vast ex-pat community, numerous visitors, and study-abroad groups. People frequently relocate to a different town or state several times throughout their lives in many other nations. On the other hand, Italians frequently spend their entire lives in one place and are deeply devoted to it. Even if they may depart to work in one of the big cities, they are intent on returning. They continue to consider that location “home” and go there frequently. Of course, connecting with other foreigners in your circumstance is considerably simpler than attempting to blend in with the natives. To get over some of the challenges, we’ve written this guide.
Why Is It Hard To Make Friends In Italy?
Compared to other cultures, Italian culture is often more exclusive. But even though it could be brutal, establishing friends with Italians is doable! Go forth and embody who you are! There are many friendly locals to be found if you’re just willing to look.
Tips To Make Italian Friends
Preemtive Relationship-Building
Online forums for internationals and ex-pats are pretty prevalent. Find them on Facebook before flying to Italy since there are groups for about anything you can think of. Try to get involved in organizations that will connect you with locals and residents who have lived there for a long time. Why not use them to get a head start before boarding the aircraft if you have the time and access to these online communities? By chatting with individuals online, you may prepare a lunch for your first week or learn about some popular spots in the area. A small amount of communication may make a big difference.
Learn Italian
Learning the language is crucial for assimilating into the culture, even if you are coming here temporarily. You can get by in large cities using only English, which creates a barrier preventing you from interacting with locals. Even if you’re not proficient, making a genuine attempt will go a long way with Italians. Italians will assist you, correct you, and share their slang and dialects once you demonstrate your willingness. Just be willing to give it a go.
Inform them that you are practicing and ask them to speak to you in Italian if they start speaking English while you are out and about (even if you try to speak Italian).
Friend Circles
People from Italy are amicable. When someone likes you and feels a connection with you, they frequently introduce you to their wider circle of friends. Without going through the entire relationship-building process again, others in the group will already view you as a friend and welcome you with open arms. When their friend brought you around, you had already passed the screening stage.
Ways To Make Friends In Italy
Currently, meeting strangers on the street is less common. in addition to being friends with them. Sharing some similar ground with someone you want to connect with locally or abroad plays an essential role.
Living With Italians
Spend time living with Italians before buying your own house, even if you can afford it. Families in Italy occasionally rent out extra space. Cohabitation is prevalent among persons in their 30s and occasionally their 40s in major cities like Milan or Rome. You may discover Italian customs and even the distinctions between Northern and Southern Italians at this time.
Living with an Italian will teach you how to make “genuine Italian coffee,” the grandmother’s lasagna recipe, and many more cultural allusions from movies, TV shows, and novels.
You can do this naturally if you are dating an Italian person. Don’t be afraid to use local Tinder or Bumble if you want one. In Italy, unlike many other nations, dating apps don’t always equate to a “one-night stand.”
Small Chat Is Essential.
Unlike certain nations in Northern Europe, Italy is a country where small conversation is highly prevalent and even expected. Long pauses are uncomfortable for Italians. What should you discuss?
If there is one subject that Italians, especially those in Southern Italy, can talk about forever, it is food. It doesn’t matter what you ate—your favorite meal, what you had for lunch, or even what you consumed when visiting another city or country. Don’t claim that the food in another city or nation was superior, especially if you traveled to France. Regarding cuisine, Italians and French people may be fierce competitors.
There are various non-verbal methods to express your enthusiasm for Italian cuisine if you don’t speak the language. Any culture will value consideration much, and it can facilitate the initial connection.
Weather and grievances are some more small-talk topics. But be cautious. As a foreigner, you’d best say something kind if you want to get along with locals, as Italians frequently criticize their nation but also want to feel proud of it. Don’t be shy about speaking; Italians are often pleased when foreigners use their language. The small conversation is simple to acquire, even if you are a novice in the language.
Find Language Exchanges Or Other Groups Online.
There is a group online devoted to whatever your passions or interests. Try searching for plants, gardening, business, or flamenco dance. You’ll learn the Italian words for things you’re interested in, and ideally, you’ll participate in the community or go to meetups.
Your drive to learn Italian will rise since you are enthusiastic about this, and you will be able to meet people with similar interests.
Large Italian cities are great places to meet people and practice your language skills. Watch out—many Italians will want to help you perfect your English or Spanish, but you should also practice your Italian. If you realize you speak only English, suggest switching to Italian for the first 45 minutes of your meeting.
I assure you that stepping outside your comfort zone will be well worth it once you recognize your friends’ good Italian side, which they cannot express in English.
The language exchange gatherings may be on Meetup or Facebook groups, typically during aperitivo.
In addition, going out for a shared aperitivo or supper once a group has formed is quite typical in Italy. The locals may warm up to you as a result.
Introduce Yourself In Bars and Cafes.
Individuals don’t mind if you introduce yourself or start discussions with strangers and other people you haven’t met before because bars and cafes are the heart of social life in Italy!
If you are from a large city where this is sometimes frowned upon, this can sound a little too forward. However, in Italy, it’s quite a common practice ingrained in the culture.
Even while there are frequent meetings of local ex-pats at huge international hotel bars, it is much simpler to talk with individuals in bars and cafés if you know a little Italian. This makes it simple to start a discussion and get to know new people, and if you get up the guts to do so, you’ll soon be meeting many new people and forming new relationships.
Follow Local Traditions
If you “act like a local,” it will be simpler for you to establish friends with Italians. While exact adherence is not required to all Italian customs, doing so might help you build relationships with locals more quickly if you reside in a more traditional area. For instance, women frequent bars in certain small towns during the afternoon. There are just guys there after dusk, along with foreigners. The positive thing about Italy is that it will probably be simpler to make friends with locals once they realize you are staying. And given that they don’t speak English much, your Italian will probably improve quickly.
Italians adore discussing local and European politics, football, and food!
Even if you’ve never cheered for a team, soccer or football, as it’s called in Europe, is a significant part of Italian culture. You should think about learning more about it and perhaps even attending live matches! Italians frequently watch the local team on the weekends; the town completely shuts down when there is a significant game since everyone is focused on it! So why not participate and start taking advantage of the enjoyment, camaraderie, and spirit of watching soccer, or “Calcio,” in Italian?
If sports aren’t your thing, study up on your local politics instead because there’s always some scandal or intrigue making the news! However, it would be best to exercise a little more caution while discussing politics because tempers may easily flare up, and you don’t want to insult anyone unintentionally. Therefore, it’s safer to keep up with local events and adopt a curious, outsider mindset rather than an authority who will dictate how things should be done to the locals!
But if you want a particular approach to start a discussion with an Italian, you can always bring up food, wine, recipes, or the history of the area where you happen to reside.
Italians are eager to share the passion of their local culture with you and are intensely devoted to it. This is an outstanding opportunity to meet people from the area, and you’ll learn some fascinating facts and get insider advice on the finest places to dine and buy groceries while you’re doing it.
Stay True To Yourself And Your Hobbies.
The most recent research demonstrates that integration is preferable to assimilation. Even if learning Italian and integrating into society is crucial, your health comes first. When you’re feeling homesick, hang out with individuals from your nation for a week or two.
There is no requirement always to follow Italians. You have so much to teach the Italians since you are exposed to different cultures they did not have. Many Italians, especially the younger generation, are intensely curious about different cultures, travel, and languages.
Therefore, you don’t necessarily have to make accommodations; just be yourself!
Try The Meetup App
With the beautiful app Meetup, you can learn about local groups that get together to share their interests. Whether interested in gardening, wine tasting, hiking, or visiting museums, you can locate a group close to you and join it. With so many groups on the app, especially in bigger towns and cities, there is an unbelievable variety of activities available. It’s a fantastic way to meet new people when you’re abroad.
You may also create your group on the app if you cannot join one that already exists.
You might start making new acquaintances by creating groups like “Learning Italian Cooking” or “Expats Meetup.”
Conclusion
Making new acquaintances is not always straightforward, mainly if you are timid or have an introverted disposition. However, your circle of friends will quickly expand as soon as you start introducing yourself. Your network of friends will inevitably grow as you meet new individuals since they will often introduce you to their buddies. Making friends in Italy is simpler than you would imagine, and it will give you more chances to enjoy your new home to the fullest.
There will be times when you feel depressed or alone. It is a step in the procedure. You could occasionally feel homesick or depressed even if you reside in paradise. Make sure to look after yourself. You can blog, talk to another ex-pat, or go to a therapist. This can frequently be a symptom of cultural shock.
Remember the good things that happened while you were in Italy and why you first picked them. It would only last temporarily.