Is it harder to make friends in the West than other countries? (apartment, how much)

[Trimac20]

Particularly the Anglosphere consisting of the UK, US, Canada, Australia, NZ, but also Northern Europe like Germany, Scandinavia.etc. These countries seem to be quite reserved about making friends, especially close friendships, and it's easy to feel quite alienated.

Plus in Australia and America the suburban lifestyle makes it hard to interact with a lot of people.

Assuming you have some command of the local language, or are a native of that country, do you think it's easier to make friends in other parts of the world? Also easier to keep friends? It also seems like family is more important, and you always hang out with friends, they just drop by casually.etc.

This seems the case in Asia (inc Middle East), Africa, Latin America, and Southern Europe. It seems that people here are more willing to befriend you/be more friendly, or is this all just a false perception?

Some exceptions might be Japan or something.

Which countries is it easiest to make friends in? Which the hardest?

[Gudra]

I believe so,esp, if you don't have the right-according to the host country/ethnic group's- colour/ culture//even state/region or whatever. Some people can't grasp that and accuse the ''unwanted'' group of not learning the language/intergrating, etc. They cannot understand that there's only so much one can do!

The younger generation tend to be better but of course, at the end of theday, it boils down to the individual.

Cue for the less-understanding to wade in...

[Ruth4Truth]

Originally Posted by Trimac20

Particularly the Anglosphere consisting of the UK, US, Canada, Australia, NZ, but also Northern Europe like Germany, Scandinavia.etc. These countries seem to be quite reserved about making friends, especially close friendships, and it's easy to feel quite alienated.

I totally agree. I'm glad I'm not the only one who perceives this. Even when you make friends, the friendships tend to be relatively shallow. There's a difference between "friends", and "Friends". The latter are rare and precious.

[dreamofmonterey]

well, OP, imo American suburbs pretty much suk. The shallow 'NIMBY' attitude and isolation is rampant.

I visited Paris alone, and (my fluency isnt that great,lol) but the people were rather nice, although this was at Montmartre and tourist places.

I prefer that to a neighbor who lives on an 'allowance' from her husband and doesnt read a single newspaper (in america). One time I asked her what books she reads and she brought over a stack of Paula Deen cookbooks, because the recipes were too 'involved'.
LOL.
Doesnt say much for southern 'culture'.

[Catbelle]

Well in my opinion the best places to make friends are South Europe and USA, and the places where it's harded ir central and North Europe, I am not sure about other places cause I don't know too many people from there, but I was surprised when I went to USA how warm and friendly people are.

[Mac15]

No way the americans are over friendly.

[mrconfusion87]

I think it's relative between individuals, and even between societies... As one of my Western female friends said, just because they are all Western doesn't mean they all behave the same way!

[helloimage]

I tend to agree about Americans are over friendly. However, I am very social and I don't care at time LOL I just want to hang out especially when I was younger.

In Europe was so tough for me to make friends. There was a limit to our 'friendships' coffee and walk to their apartment, took LONG time until I was even invited in their homes. My friend who resides in Paris, took her years to make friends with the French. She made American expat friends in a week! But now she loves her french friends.

Though I learned a lot from living in Europe. Now that I am back in the states (temporarily) I am more cautious about who I make friends.

[tvdxer]

Aquí tienes tu casa cuando decidas regresar a México

"Right here you have your house when you decide to return to Mexico"

- Out of the keyboard of a good friend's cousin whom I had not seen before when discussing a "language exchange". In our third conversation?

"You have to promise me to return to Morocco!"

- Young Berber man my age whom I met on the bus, gave me a free taxi ride, a cushy bed, and two magnificent meals at his grand-uncle's house upon disembarkation...when I said my flight plans out of Marrakesh were in conflict with the three-day long family reunion he was attending.

[Bettafish]

Westerners are sensitive to too many things. They don't ask about age, wage, religion, career, weight, marriage status.... and eventually you know nothing about other people.
If you go to China, for example, the first question is "how old are you"? Followed by "What do you do?.., How much do you make as a XXX in America?"