Living abroad can be a wonderful change, either for the rest of your life, or just for a couple of years. Finding good lines of communication is essential to get the most out of life abroad. If you move while working, is a little easier, because you automatically have a group of colleagues. If not, you want to find social groups. Groups of expatriate mothers groups amateur theater and pub quiz is the most common ways to meet people in the same situation.
The problem with expatriate communities, which can be very elitist, and indeed take a lot away from the joy of living abroad. The problem is that depending on where you live, this can be a challenge.
Take the lessons that we have the language, local music and art you can make friends and give you something to do while you wait to build your life around you. You can not expect to just stroll through a full and enjoyable social. As one of unexpected welcome living abroad is that when you return to the UK, you can enjoy all the things you do not get in your current home.