How to make friends as an expat in Thailand

Making friends as an adult can be hard enough. Add being an expat in Thailand to the mix and you may be left feeling like you’ll never find your local social circle. Or perhaps you’ve met some new people but your loved one is finding it more challenging. Whatever the situation, our friends at Pacific Prime Thailand are here to talk about making friends as an expat in the Land of Smiles to help you make the most of your time here.

The first step is always the hardest part

Whether you’re moving to Thailand or have been here for a while, forming friendships in Thailand has probably crossed your mind more than once. It can be challenging to put yourself out there and get to know new people. On top of that, you may be missing your loved ones back home and thinking you’ll never find anyone quite like them.

But you’ll never know if you never try. From striking up a conversation with an interesting stranger to volunteering and joining expat meetup groups, there are more possibilities to meet people than you may realize. Stop waiting for others to make the first move and take that initial step. You never know, it could be the start of a beautiful friendship. And if it’s not, at least you tried.

4 tips for forming friendships in Thailand as an expat

So, now that you are confident about making the first move if need be, here are some tips to help you connect with new people.

1. Meet your neighbors

A simple solution to start meeting people in a new place, as well as overcome culture shock, is to try and meet people that are in your area. This is especially ideal to avoid feeling isolated if you don’t drive or you only use public transport. Expat-popular cities like Bangkok, Chiang Mai, and Phuket have local groups that you can join. From there, you can introduce yourself to connect with similar people nearby.

If you can’t find an organized group, your next best bet is to get to know your neighbors. You can knock on their door for a brief introduction or talk to someone that you often bump into on your way in/out. Since locals and expats alike share a love of food, you could make the encounter extra special with a sweet or savory treat.

2. Expand existing family connections

If you moved to Thailand with your family or partner, there may be more opportunities to meet people than you’re aware of. Does your spouse have some friends already? They might know who to connect you with. Or perhaps your spouse knows someone at work who shares similar interests and can introduce you.

If your children are enrolled in school, you can get to know other parents through their school activities. You can set up playdates with other kids that your children get along with - and whose parents you can see yourself being friends with. This way, everyone gets to make new friends!

3. Let people know you’re looking

Everyone is aware of the struggles of finding friends abroad, so don’t feel like you’re desperate for putting yourself out there. In fact, let people know that you’re looking to make connections. While you don’t quite have to go shouting it from the rooftops, there’s no harm in casually bringing it up the next time you’re speaking with a colleague or family member. Someone might already know the perfect friend for you, but they won’t know you’re looking for more friends unless you say so.

4. The internet is your friend

We don’t mean you should swap real friends for the internet, but rather, use it as a tool to make friends in Thailand. Facebook groups for your area are a good start. Depending on where you’re living in the country, you may be able to find activity groups like ‘hiking in Chiang Mai’ or ‘nights out in Bangkok’. Once in the group, you can either post that you’re looking to meet up with new people or reply when others do the same.

Another option is to use Meetup groups that help you find people in your area with similar interests. Of course, always be safe when meeting strangers on the internet. If you do meet, make sure it’s in a public space and that someone knows where you are.

Remember: good things take time and you’ll probably need to slowly get to know someone before they become a close friend. Whether it’s asking your colleagues about their weekend, inviting a parent from your children’s school for lunch, or saying hello to your neighbor with a box of cookies in hand, every small step that you take in the direction towards friendship is well worth the effort.

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