Brits abroad could be more sociable, study finds

According to a recent survey by international relocation company, Robinsons, around one-in-three British people who live abroad have made little or no attempt to integrate into the local culture.

The study questioned 1,000 UK expats about life abroad, revealing a few startling results…

According to the research, a third of those surveyed have no local friends and have not ventured beyond the British expat community and friendship groups.

Brits living in the UAE (mostly Dubai) were the most insular, with almost half of those surveyed describing their social groups as ‘mainly British’. Expats residing in Africa were equally unlikely to seek out locals with whom to socialise while, conversely and unsurprisingly, Brits living in Canada and New Zealand were the most outgoing, with only nine per cent stating that their friends were drawn solely from fellow Brits abroad.

Elsewhere, expats in Eastern Europe also tend to stick to what they know, with 41 per cent stating that they have been unable or unwilling to socialise with the locals.

The survey also lifted the lid more widely on attitudes towards integration. Some 37 per cent of Brits have not learnt the local language in the country in which they now reside, while one in four admitted that they were uninterested in the local culture.

Attempting to integrate into the ways of one’s adopted country can be challenging, but is usually a rewarding exercise given time. However, many British expats across the world are only abroad because of their employment, making it easier to understand the reluctance to integrate in a culture and society that will only ever be temporary to them.

A recent HSBC Expat Explorer Survey explored this subject in greater depth and found that people who move to the UK are actually the most socially integrated expats of all, which suggests that Brits are very open to welcoming people into the country.

“Integrating into the community, by learning the local language for example, can help you settle in to your new home,” said Cara Fortune from the British Foreign Office’s Know Before You Go team. “Although it is easy to connect with friends and family back in the UK, making friends close by will prove helpful down the line.”

Fortune added that a friendly demeanour and inquisitive mindset are the best tools to help an expat transition into life abroad. “A friendly approach to local people gives you an opportunity to learn not just the language but also the culture, and discover things about your new home country that the average tourist doesn’t get to experience,” she said.