Landing in a new country can feel slightly like being the new kid at school—except the school is massive, everyone walks super fast, and even ordering coffee feels like a test you haven’t studied for. The loneliness creeps in quickly, making your cozy blanket and phone seem like your only friends. That’s why building a community isn’t just helpful—it’s survival. Whether it’s bonding over confusing transit maps, finding someone who also misses your hometown snacks, or meeting people who get it turns a foreign place into something that feels more like home (with better Wi-Fi).
But don’t worry, I won’t leave you with just the “go make friends” pep talk. Here’s how I, in all my awkward glory, managed to build a community in Vancouver after moving for my MBA program. From an accidental hello to a metal-head morning runner to navigating the maze of networking events (where the snacks are fancy but the small talk is real), these little steps helped me find my people—and they might also help you.
Loneliness is real—and so is the self-doubt that creeps in when you’re trying to make genuine connections without sounding like a walking LinkedIn profile. The trick? Don’t forget what genuinely lights you up. For me, it’s music—specifically, metal. I used to jog in the same park every morning and kept noticing a guy who looked like he might also be into metal. I started saying hello, and for 15 days, he gave me nothing—not even a nod. But then, on day 16… he said hello. We bonded over our shared love for the same bands, which led to conversations, jam sessions, and a wider circle of like-minded friends. Through them, I found an even bigger community here in Vancouver.
The community doesn’t just appear—it takes intention (and a few awkward intros). Through them, I met people from industries I’m genuinely interested in. One thing led to another, and soon I was attending networking events—not the stiff, suit-and-tie kind, but places where real conversations happened. I met a few like-minded folks who were enough to make this big city feel smaller.
Apart from all this community magic outside, I’ve got to give a shoutout to the networking events at SFU. These aren’t just resume-swapping marathons but great places to spot people you genuinely click with. Instead of hunting for someone who might offer you a job someday, I started focusing on finding folks I actually enjoy talking to. Funny enough, those are often the people you work with best if paths cross professionally. So yes, SFU events = low-key goldmine for building your tribe.
So, if you’ve just landed in a new country and feel like your GPS hasn’t synced yet—take a breath. Start with what you love, stay open to the small moments, and let the community build one genuine hello at a time.
About the Author
Kunaal Khanna holds a Bachelor’s in Commerce (Honours) from the University of Delhi. Before starting his MBA, he worked in the aviation industry, where his roles were primarily in customer experience, supply chain management, and product innovation. Kunaal is pursuing a full-time MBA in the Beedie School of Business and has kept his schedule open to help future incoming students at Beedie. He also participates in case studies.