by Chantal Panozzo

Loneliness. Even the most outgoing expat is going to have their moments. One of the hardest things about living abroad is being far from former support groups like family and friends. Here are five ways to help you fight isolation abroad:

-Write a blog. I’ve written about the benefits of blogging before, but writing a blog can make you feel like you’re part of a larger community and can also lead to making friends.If you live in Switzerland, Swiss Expat Bloggers is an organization of over 100 expats that blog. All you have to do to join is start a blog.

-Join a club. Maybe you don’t speak the local language so joining a local club, music group, or sports team may be difficult. But there are plenty of expat organizations that welcome new members. For a good list of clubs in Switzerland, visit the the Swiss News listing on their website.

-Invite your neighbor over. Many Swiss people will wait until you come to them first. They might be secretly hoping to meet you, but you’ll never know until you go knock. And don’t worry about your language skills. When my neighbor and I get together, we keep the German-English dictionary close by. Getting to know the people you live near is key to feeling more at home.

-Take a language class. There are many ways to learn a language without spending money on a class. But if you take a class you’ll meet a group of people and feel a sense of belonging. This can help with fighting isolation while also allowing you to gain the skills necessary to make you feel less foreign in the long run.

-Get a job or volunteer. Getting a job—even a part-time one—can help you become part of the community in a way many of the above just can’t. Most likely, you’ll meet international people as well as locals and gain insights into a culture that only a foreign office can provide.

How do you fight isolation abroad?

Chantal Panozzo is a writer in Switzerland who has written for a variety of publications on two continents. She’s the author of One Big Yodel, a blog about life in Switzerland and moving abroad, and also discusses living abroad as a freelancer at Writer Abroad.

Tags: expat, expat in switzerland, isolation, life in switzerland, living abroad, loneliness, Switzerland

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