PSA: My simple trick for making friends in a new country

I just moved to Lisbon and felt totally isolated for the first week. Then I started going to the same coffee shop every morning and saying hi to the regulars. Now I have a little group to hang out with on weekends! It's amazing how a small daily habit can build real connections. Try picking a spot and becoming a familiar face, it really works!

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emma_wood6mo ago

Totally get that! My version was trying to befriend the quiet owner of a local bakery by going every Tuesday. It took a month before he even smiled, but now we chat about the weather. Your story, @rayross, makes me feel better about my slow progress. Sometimes the quiet spots work, just on a longer timeline.

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rayross6mo ago

Lisbon sounds nice, but my version of this in Tokyo was me bowing to the same vending machine every day. The machine never invited me to weekend hangs, but it did give me consistent hot coffee. I guess machines aren't as social as Portuguese regulars. Maybe I should upgrade to a human-run spot!

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kevin_hernandez836mo ago

That vending machine loyalty hits close to home. I once tried to make friends with the office printer by giving it a name. It only ever communicated through paper jams and cryptic error codes. At least your machine gave you coffee.

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