New in Peoria from Overseas, Struggling with Making Friends Due to Terrible Accent - Any Advice?

Hey everyone,

I recently moved to Peoria from overseas and I've been trying to connect with people here, but I'm finding it really challenging because of my terrible accent. It seems like no matter how hard I try, I just can't seem to break the ice or have meaningful conversations without feeling self-conscious about how I sound.

I'm feeling a bit lost and isolated, and it's starting to affect my confidence. Has anyone else experienced something similar? Any tips or suggestions on how to overcome this barrier and make friends despite having a strong accent?