Have A More Active Social Life

So yeah, I admit, I haven’t been making enough of an effort to socialize and make new friends. I live in Tokyo, and it’s an interesting city, but friend-finding has been a bit difficult for obvious reasons. I mean, I’m learning the language and all, but the language barrier is still there. I HAVE met interesting fellow expats, and some of them seem really cool, but I think my years of living in the countryside of Japan have caused me to become somewhat shut in, thus losing social skills. The only way to overcome this is to keep on getting out and trying, and that’s what I intend to do.

I want to have en extremely active social life by next December. I have no life. I want one so much. I hope I can do it.

1. prepare 10 excellent dishes from memory and
2. organise 10 dinner parties this year

I want to get out more and make new friends.

You know what? I think it’s time to mark this one completed. My social life has become more active, even if that activity does revolve around only one person. My weekends are usually booked about a month in advance, so if anyone wants to hang out with me in March they have to lock me in by the first week of February. I’ve done a lot of travelling this past year and seen a lot of old friends in the process. I’m trying to be more friendly and approachable at work. I no longer spend weekends alone in my house wondering why no one wants to hang out with me. Yes, things have definitely improved. I’ve done well.

but sometimes you can get so involved that you start sucking at your day job (hangovers, daydreaming, or planning tonight’s party) .. moderation is the key!

to parties and to alcohol!

Well, it’s really looking like I really don’t fit too well into a lot of groups here. I have a very varied and unusual background, all of which comes together to make the mix that is me, which my husband says makes people unsure of how to “place” me or understand me. So that on top of the fact that I’m (ahem) “unique”, there are all the cultural and language barriers of a new country to contend with. I’ve made nice acquaintances, which is a step, but the potential for friendships with some real connection is looking slim…

Since moving to a new country I’ve really missed having a more active social life, what with not even being able to communicate with people because of the language barrier, the cultural differences and the old apartment and everything. But now we’re in a new town in a better apartment and although it’s still not easy and I don’t always understand everything, I can actually have a decent conversation in German. I should remind myself to think positively and feel good about this and the language skills I’ve gained rather than bad about the language skills I lack. I should also just go for it more and just talk. I think I worry too much about people’s reactions or if they’re too busy, etc.

I need to relax, just talk and go for it (without worrying about the language too much) and be open and make open invitations without big expectations or feeling pressure or wanting to control the outcome.

Stop thinking so much and just “be” ok (with myself, my efforts, my situation, my language, etc.).

This is linked to my friendships goal so Im taking it out

to not allow classes run my life.

I just created a list of potential, interesting clubs to join. Hopefully I will be able to meet a few good people and make some good solid contacts