When you've just arrived in new a country, one of the first things to do is look for friends. Here's Marisa Lowenstein's A-Z guide.

A

Airport – Waste no time! If your flight didn’t result in new connections, no worries – that’s what the baggage carrousel is for. Don’t just stand there watching somebody else’s belongings roll by, say hello to your fellow jet-lagged luggage watchers.

B 

Bars – It may seem obvious, but there is a reason for the pub’s popularity – drunk people make friends faster. Granted, the next day you may not remember who you gave your number out to, but the benefits of opting to have a couple of beers at your local bar instead of on your couch far outweigh the negatives.

C

Common Interests – Homing in on the community you belong to will change your social life significantly. If you’re a mother ask your local toy store for local playgroups or ask your child’s school what you can do to help (they are always looking for volunteers for extracurricular activities). If you’re a dancer find your local studio, if you love to play chess, there's always someone on the other side of the board.

D

Dates – Blind, unexpected, involuntary – make them and accept them any way you can! Keep your options open and don’t turn down an invitation (unless truly uncomfortable, of course). Your bad date may have a great group of friends that you never would have met. And there's always Expatica Date, if you want to meet other expats!

E

Expatica – Clubs, community, information, entertainment – parties! You’re using it right now and if meeting people is still a priority, you’ll continue to turn to the ultimate connection resource. Check out the discussion forums to chat with fellow expats, or post an announcement about your own gathering in our FREE Classifieds. We also have plenty of events that other internationals have uploaded on our Entertainment Channel. 

F

Friends of Friends – Fact: the quickest route to making friends is through the friends you already have. Pay attention to all introductions even if they’re screamed into your ear in a pub on a Saturday night.

G

Gyms – You’re sweating, you’re panting, you’re flushed and tired... and so is everyone else at the gym. Working out is the perfect conversation starter.

H

Hair Cut – You can’t go anywhere as there are scissors pointed at your brain, so you might as well use the time wisely. Your local hair stylist lives in or around your neighborhood so feel free gather some information while sitting in the chair.

I

Ice Cream – The best advertising campaign for the frosty treat is its public consumption. How many times have you craved a scoop after you’ve seen a happy person licking one? Ask him where he got it? What flavour is it?

J

Job – Chances are, you spend more time at your place of employment then you do at your own home. Even if you’re “positive” that your coworkers will never be your friends, talk to them - just because you’re 25 and single doesn’t mean that the guy who’s married with children doesn’t have funny local stories to share with you.

K

Kissing - always better done with a friend — and a quick way to turn an acquaintance into a friendship.

L

Libraries – While not the best venue for animated conversation, the library is often the heart of the thinking city. Feel free to ask the woman browsing the short fiction section – in a bold whisper of course – for her recommendations.

M

Music – The original international language, music brings people together like nothing else. Check your local newspaper or dig around online for schedules.

N

Neighbours – Another everyday resource not to be missed! Remember that these people have most likely lived in the area much longer than you have and are a wealth of useful information.

O

Organised Tours – It may seem too touristy to take, but an organised tour of your new city or surrounding area is a great way to meet fellow explorers.

P

Pool(s) – Your local swimming pool is a great community resource. It may be indoors in the winter or outdoors in the summer sun – either way fellow swimmers can find each other here. Dive in!

Q

Queue – At the bank, the post office, the grocery store or waiting for the WC – queues are one of the best places to strike up conversation. You’re all in the same impatient position so help pass the time by getting to know each other.

R

Restaurants – Food is a guaranteed conversation topic and Europe is overflowing with it. Talk to everyone you can to find out where the natives go when they’re looking for a good meal. Once there, feel free to chat to the waiter and your dining neighbours.

S

Sports – Tennis, squash, bowling, pool – sports are a quick way to establish teamwork and friendship. Find your local tennis courts and bowling alley (start with Expatica.com). Pool tables can be found at many bars and cafes – ask if you can join in on a game.

T

Transportation - Use your travel time wisely – say more than “sorry” to the person you fell onto when the tram/metro/bus made a sharp turn.

U

University - It is not necessary to be a fully matriculated 21-year-old student to reap the social and educational benefits of your local university. Most universities now offer a variety of single courses that are open to anyone and offered at work-friendly times (evenings, weekends). Brush up on your French, explore sociology or history and most importantly – meet your classmates.

V

Volunteering - Do something useful for others and you just might find you're doing something for yourself. The nicest people volunteer.

W

Wander - The number of friendships started by sitting alone in the lounge room with the remote in one hand and junk food in the other is relatively small. Get out and about, the streets are teeming with potential pals.

X

X chromosome - two of these and you're a girl, XY and you're a boy — the rest is up to you.

Y

Yoga - Stretched out on the floor with bare feet is a natural way to make new friends. A quick online search will lead you to your local yoga centre.

Z

Zoo - Almost everyone loves animals and almost every major city will have a zoo. With or without children, spend some time with those who walk on four legs and introduce yourself to those who walk on two.

Subject: Meeting people