How to Make Friends Across 70 Plus Nationalities at Network School
Practical strategies for building friendships across cultural and language barriers at Network School's uniquely diverse community.
Why Cross-Cultural Friendships Matter
NS offers something genuinely rare — daily proximity to people from 70+ countries who share your ambition and values.
NS offers something genuinely rare — daily proximity to people from 70+ countries who share your ambition and values. These cross-cultural friendships are the most valuable thing you take from NS. They give you a global network, diverse perspectives on business and life, and friends who can host you in cities around the world. But cross-cultural friendship does not happen automatically just because you are in the same building. Language barriers, cultural communication differences, and the human tendency to gravitate toward the familiar all work against it. Building a genuinely international social circle requires intentional effort.
Breaking Language and Cultural Barriers
Shared activities transcend language barriers more effectively than conversation. Play sports, cook together, go on day trips, or collaborate on projects. Physical activities — Morning Burn, gym sessions, swimming — require minimal language and create natural bonding through shared effort. Learn basic greetings in your friends' languages. Even butchering 'namaste,' 'ni hao,' 'hola,' or 'merhaba' with a smile shows respect and creates warmth. Use simple, clear English and avoid idioms, slang, and cultural references that do not translate. Communication style varies hugely across cultures — some are direct, others indirect; some value efficiency, others relationship-building. Neither is wrong.
Organizing Cross-Cultural Activities
Be the person who creates mixing opportunities. Host a 'country night' where someone shares food, music, or stories from their culture. Organize a 'language exchange' table at dinner where everyone teaches phrases from their language. Start a cooking group where members take turns making dishes from their homeland. Plan group trips to JB or Singapore with intentionally mixed groups rather than same-nationality clusters. The people who become social connectors at NS — bridging different groups and cultures — are among the most valued and remembered community members.
Sustaining International Friendships Post-NS
The connections you make at NS can last decades if you maintain them. Create group chats for your closest NS friends on WhatsApp or Telegram. Share updates about your life and work regularly — not just travel highlights, but real progress and challenges. Visit friends when you travel to their countries. Attend NS alumni gatherings and reunions. Many NS alumni describe their international network as one of the most impactful outcomes of their stay. These are not LinkedIn connections — they are real friends who you lived with, worked out with, and shared meals with for months. Treat them accordingly.
70+ nationalities represented at NS
Source: ns.com
English is the common language for all NS programming
Source: NS community
“The most powerful network is not the one with the most connections — it is the one with the most diverse connections. Diversity of perspective is the ultimate competitive advantage.”
Frequently Asked Questions
What if I only speak English?
English is the default language at NS, and most members speak it at a conversational level. You will not be linguistically excluded. However, you will notice groups switching to their native language for nuanced discussions, which is natural. Do not take it personally — join English-default activities and events. Many of the strongest NS friendships are between people who share only English as a common language.
How do I avoid accidentally offending someone from a different culture?
Ask questions with genuine curiosity rather than making assumptions. If you are unsure whether something is appropriate, ask: 'Is it okay if I...?' People generally appreciate the effort of asking over the awkwardness of an unintentional offense. If you do offend someone, apologize sincerely and learn from it. The NS community is generally forgiving of cultural missteps when intent is clearly good.
Which nationalities are most represented at NS?
The largest groups typically include Indian, American, Nigerian, Chinese, Brazilian, German, and British members, though this varies by cohort. No single nationality dominates, and the community actively works to maintain international diversity. Every cohort brings a different mix, ensuring the cross-cultural experience is constantly refreshed.
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