|
You've gone and done it. You have moved to a new city and you don't know a single soul. How will you make new friends? How do you even begin to meet people that share the same interests as you do, that will hopefully, one day, turn into friends?
Meeting new people in a new place can be rather daunting. If your personality is of the shy type it may seem an insurmountable task to make friends in a new place.
The logical first place to start in your quest for friendship would be in the work place. Unless of course, you despise the people you work with, and in that case, you have my sympathies.
Start small, see where they meet for lunch and ask if you can tag along someday. Ask someone there for a tour of the fun and interesting spots, or maybe some of the lesser known great places in the city.
Work mates not your style? How about volunteering. No matter where you move to there will always bee a need for volunteers. Check with your city's Chamber of Commerce and get a listing of the volunteer organizations. Most of them have a contact person and their phone numbers listed. They welcome calls and are more than happy to take the time to explain their organizations and will most likely invite you to join them at their next meeting or event.
Interested in reading and learning? Do you like to lounge in a comfortable setting and read? Libraries and many book stores would be the perfect setting for you. Books are categorized, opening the possibility of meeting other browsers that share interests. One person holding a book opens up the avenue for questions and conversation.
Do you have a quest to further your education? Community colleges, and the like are brimming with class offerings and people. Meeting people in class, going out for coffee afterwards, sharing class notes, all make for a great start at forming friendships. If nothing else, you'll have had fun learning.
City Councils have meetings on a fairly regular basis. They are often advertised in the local newspapers, bulletin boards, and cable channels. If not, you can get a schedule with times, dates, and the location, at the City Hall. Why not attend a meeting, meet your council, and some concerned citizens in your neighborhood. In the process you will learn a bit more about your new city and it's working, as well as becoming aware of the issues of the day.
If the new city has a community center, go and visit it; check it out to see what it has to offer your family. Ask the director for a tour and introductions to the staff and guests. Get schedules and fee information. Sign up for an activity that interests you. A community center is a wonderful place for one stop meetings for your entire family.
Is your faith one of the corner stones of your existence? If your answer is yes, then you will be searching for, then joining a congregation rather quickly. Talk to the priest about a welcoming event where your family can meet the members of the congregation and be apprised of the goings on in the church. Find out what services are provided for all members of the family and partake in those that interest you.
Should you have children you will be enrolling them into a new school in your new town. How about talking to the teacher and the principal to see what volunteer opportunities await you? Join the PTA to meet other parents and staff interested in the same things you are: bettering the school and relationships between the families and the staff. Get to know the parents of the other students in your child's classroom. A great way to do that is to host some sort of party or gathering in your home, inviting the classmates and their parents. If you don't have the room you can do this with a few of the children and their families at a time.
If your children are involved in sports or other extra curricular activities, get involved right along with them. Be it club leaders, coaches, umpires, score keepers, or spectators you are bound to meet other parents with whom you could very well form lasting friendships.
Meeting new people and making new friends in a new town isn't always easy, but will bring you rewards you, and your family, will be enjoying now and in years to come.
Best of luck to you in your quest.
| 
