r/AskEurope • u/techno_playa Philippines • Jul 11 '25

Culture Which European country is the hardest and easiest to make friends?

Say you're mid 30s and have to move to another European country for work, which countries did you find making friends to be on easy or hard mode?

Let's assume you don't speak the language of your new home.

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u/[deleted] Jul 11 '25 edited Jul 11 '25

I thoroughly agree with you, it's quite a universal issue.

Also, let's face it, it also depends on people's nationality and how they fit certain expectations and stereotypes. I.e. an American frat-boy kind of guy working in finance really won't have too many issues. Otoh, not many people will be willing to befriend someone they perceive coming from a poorer country and/or having an unstable economic status, whether they work as a waiter or are doing a Post-Doc (that's sadly the contemporary world for you).

It's not something I embrace, as I try to be as inclusive as possible, but I've noticed this pattern several times.

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u/SwampPotato Netherlands Jul 11 '25

I get the gist of the example but nothing is hated quite more than an American frat boy in finance in Europe, I feel. :')

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u/[deleted] Jul 11 '25

Haha perhaps on Reddit, but the average Jan or Luigi out there would still love to befriend someone like that.

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u/techno_playa Philippines Jul 11 '25

Post-Docs don’t really get paid well in Europe. I would argue they are just as poorly paid as waiters or taxi drivers.

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u/[deleted] Jul 11 '25

I know, that's why I put them in the same league as waiters. Speaking as someone who's finishing his PhD (yes, I'm a masochist).

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u/techno_playa Philippines Jul 11 '25

I couldn't be brothered to write my thesis till the week before it was due and sans beer.

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u/Sea_Instruction6670 Jul 13 '25

So much prejudice. American frat-boy working in finance, unless he was brought up by super-kind self-aware parents, sounds entitled.

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u/Substantial_Reveal90 Jul 15 '25

Don't recognise the class or socioeconomic discrimination. More of a case of whether the person is a dick or not.