How can I find a friend?

[Mark TKO]

emigrate ?

[Andre]

Any US barracks around? Go to one of their digs and start chatting, be interesting.

Chess club? How about lawn bowls Miles? ten pin bowls, join a boxing gym.

Any parks where honeys walk dogs,dogs are good starting points.

A Library?

Are you near a beach? A mountain? A lake? A bush walk?

Where do tourists hang out? Any YHAs or budget accommodations? travelers always want to have a yak.

How about a drive back to your old town, it cant be that far away? fuk your country would fit clean up our countries ass, we did 210 ks today just for 4 hours work.

HAve a beer at home and ring a mate in England.

Ring me if you like

Ring Bilbo you can argue for hours.

[Mattyhitman]

When I moved to a new place, I used to go to the local pubs. Have a couple of drinks and get a feel for the place, if i like the haunt, then try to get to know a few peeps, starting with bar tenders, then move onto the locals. It does help If ya like playing pool or darts, get the know locals through that and hey presto

[HattonTheHammer]

you still out asia way milo??

may i suggest due to recent events giving swimming lessons to the locals

[Gandalf]

I went to the supermarket and had a right old riot. I couldn't find a cash machine and had to ask this security type fellow where one was. He responded with remarkably good English and I was half tempted to ask him if he fancied a pint, but I thought better of that and went off looking for the foreign beers section where I had heard the variety of beers had been expanding and at a reasonable price. There was quite a lot on offer, I bought a few different sorts and will stay at home sampling them. I also bought a six pack of Sapporo beer in honour of those who have been lost in the earthquake/tsunami. Actually my little drive and walk about has alleviated some of my loneliness. I now have plenty of friends and they are all in liquid form. It's a good thing the wife isn't here as she would kill me for buying all these different beers.

Yeah, my looking for a friend thing is slightly tongue in cheek. I am hardly mr sociable the best of times and typically only go out about once a month anyway, but it would be nice to know someone who you can go out for the occasional beer with. Actually, I think I will just have some of these beers tonight and watch the cricket world cup on an illegal stream. Cricket and beer, it's all you need really. Who needs friends.

[Gandalf]

There is a very nice lake here actually. This is a smallish town completed surrounded by high, rolling mountains and there is a large lake right outside my window. I might check it out properly this weekend. I might even try to walk up one of the mountains. That could be a mistake though. No, I'm feeling much chirpier now.

[El Kabong]

miles, why be self conscious about going out alone? People are more apt to talk to you if you're by yourself. Perhaps there is some civic group you could join...I am actually thinking of becoming a Freemason not because I lack friends, I just want to have a deeper connection to my community and expand the group of people I have connections with. I would also suggest going to church, but that might not be your cup of tea....perhaps finding a good coffee shop would suit you.

How old are your students btw?

[Kev]

miles, why be self conscious about going out alone? People are more apt to talk to you if you're by yourself. Perhaps there is some civic group you could join...I am actually thinking of becoming a Freemason not because I lack friends, I just want to have a deeper connection to my community and expand the group of people I have connections with. I would also suggest going to church, but that might not be your cup of tea....perhaps finding a good coffee shop would suit you.

How old are your students btw?

haha I thought the idea is for him to make friends?

[Gandalf]

miles, why be self conscious about going out alone? People are more apt to talk to you if you're by yourself. Perhaps there is some civic group you could join...I am actually thinking of becoming a Freemason not because I lack friends, I just want to have a deeper connection to my community and expand the group of people I have connections with. I would also suggest going to church, but that might not be your cup of tea....perhaps finding a good coffee shop would suit you.

How old are your students btw?

My students are the usual college age. They range from 18 to 24. Some of the males are back from their military service so can be a fair bit older than you would expect.

I've gone out alone in the past, but it's not so bad in my old city as I know it very well. I kind of know where to go. Here it is quite different. Also, though I can speak the basics of the Korean language fairly well, it can be really hard work in a bar setting. Just as it can be very difficult for many Koreans to strike up a conversation about significant issues in English. It is very hard work.

I suppose it's all about me persevering for the next couple of weeks until my domestic life is back to normal. I haven't lived alone in over 6 years. It feels very unusual having the house to myself. In a way it's kind of liberating. I am sitting here drinking my second type of beer which would be unheard of if the wife was here (I've got all sorts of random stuff), but it does feel kind of empty without her around.

Usually there are foreign communities. For instance, in my old city we even have a community website and there is a network of people. Having become domesticated I kind of fell out of the loop, but it was always there if I needed it. I have tried searching for something similar here, but there doesn't seem to be anything like that. Obviously I could never join a church or anything like that. Just an occasional drinking partner would be nice. Just a once a month thing for when the guys need a little break from the whole domestication thing.

[Spicoli]

Nothing wrong with going to the pub yeh Miles. You are human after all. Students past or present see you in different light may go aways. Know your cut off point though less you want pics of you dancing atop tables in your boxers with young asian men all over Facebook or something.

[Andre]

miles, why be self conscious about going out alone? People are more apt to talk to you if you're by yourself. Perhaps there is some civic group you could join...I am actually thinking of becoming a Freemason not because I lack friends, I just want to have a deeper connection to my community and expand the group of people I have connections with. I would also suggest going to church, but that might not be your cup of tea....perhaps finding a good coffee shop would suit you.

How old are your students btw?

Well to use an old term, You dont find friends ..you make friends

So why don't you go to a Synagogue?