By Stamatina Notaras
Everyone knows the feeling – walking into an event with no entourage or familiar face to cling to, scanning the room for a reason to stay or a signal to leave. It can be terrifying, exhilarating and full of possibility. Like most things, it gets easier with practice.
Moving to a new city offers space to rediscover yourself, free from preconceptions. And sometimes, in the process of meeting others, you end up learning a little more about yourself too.
For Angie, an American-born Greek who moved to Athens two years ago, building a new life – and a new social circle – came down to persistence, curiosity and a willingness to lean into discomfort.
She arrived in the Greek capital with a new job and a desire to immerse herself fully in the experience. Making friends, she says, didn’t happen overnight, but it did happen in places she least expected.
“The easiest way for me to connect with people was at the gym,” Angie says. “I know people generally feel a type of way about talking to others at the gym, but once you show your face for more than a few weeks, people will smile at you and give you that look – the ‘it’s okay for you to come and chat to me’ look.”
One of her closest friendships in Athens, she says, came from that very setting.
“Two years into living here, one of my closest friends is someone who worked at the gym – so my method has pretty solid results.”
For those who prefer to keep their workout routine and social life separate, Angie suggests music and cultural events as another entry point.
“I recommend going to specific music events – outdoor parties, dance raves, whatever you like,” she says. “I made friends with a DJ because I loved the music he played. I went to all the events he was at and met so many fun people dancing in the crowd.”
Not every interaction turned into a lasting friendship, she adds, but each one made it easier to strike up conversations and form connections on the spot.
Another surprisingly effective place to start, she says, is close to home.
“Is there a coffee shop you love? Chat with the barista or server enough and you can become friends with them. Restaurant, bar or bakery you like – do the same,” Angie says. “You’d be surprised how many people are also looking for connection.”
She acknowledges that new cities can feel intimidating, and social circles can appear closed off.
“Sometimes people do seem cliquey – and sometimes they are – but most often, people are genuine and perfectly happy to chat with someone new.”
Even for confident people, she says, there are moments when nerves take over and small talk feels exhausting. But that’s often the moment to push through rather than pull back.
“It took me ages to work up the courage to laugh and joke with my super-cool barista,” Angie says. “But when they finally asked me to come to an event they were DJing, I knew every minute of awkwardness was worth it.”
For Angie, the lesson is simple and rooted in a familiar phrase.
“The teens of the early 2000s had it right when they coined the phrase YOLO,” she says. “You truly only live once. Why waste time regretting or wishing you’d done something when you had the chance? Go out and do – and experience what happens.”
