I recently moved to the USA, from the middle east. My English is pretty good, and I don’t have a lot of trouble communicating with people at work or in stores. I also don’t know anyone here at all, outside of work. All my family is still back in Gaza, and I’ve been here over a year now, and still feel cut off from American people and culture.
How do you make friends and socialize here? How do I learn more about America and Americans culture? I know a bit about history, but not much about anything else.
I don’t drink or go to bars, for religious reasons. I have joined a couple of clubs based on hobbies, but still feel disconnected. I’m not sure how you socialize or meet new people here, in my family everyone came around your house all the times of the day, and here it seems like neighbors just stick to themselves. I don’t want to bug people or anoy them if that is not the customs here.
Also, what are your favorite parts of American culture and history? So far I have enjoyed Nascar and monster trucks very much, and studying mathematics.
Where in the US? Think of the US as 50 countries In a trenchcoat. Socializing in Arizona is different from Washington or Georgia.
Haha, socializing in WA… that doesn’t happen here.
I have no life.
Yep. Everyone in WA everyone is just trying to get out of the rain.
“That’s the neat part! You don’t!”
Several people have recommended hiking groups, and that’s a really good option. Hikers are generally very friendly people, and you can meet a lot of very interesting people on the trails from all over the world. The United States is also gifted to have many vast and diverse wilderness parks that are federally protected, so you can definitely experience some absolutely wonderful landscapes that might be very different than where you grew up. We also have many thousands of miles of trails, including the Appalachian Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, and Continental Divide Trail, each of which is at least 2,100 miles long.
There are also very many other outdoor activities that Americans have long traditions with, so if you want exposed to more of the local cultures, find something to do outside that you’ve never tried before. Fishing, hunting, hiking, backpacking, kayaking, and camping are just a few of the popular ones.
That’s the cool part. You don’t! ;)
Try volunteering somewhere, you will likely meet good people that way. Usually you have to be decent to give up your time for the benefit of others. I volunteer at a local clinic and a “soup kitchen”, made a lot of friends that way. If you want to be a part of the community you cant go wrong by helping solve the problems of the community. If you’re not sure how to get started, check out your local United Way.
The comments about volunteering seem really helpful. Go down to your local animal control center and you will meet some decent people.
Also, Halloween tends to create possibilities. Even if you are just handing out flyers for a local project of some sort.
I gather you are not going to bars, which is a really good idea
If you figure it out, let us know. My kids keep asking me the same thing. I dont know how to do that now because things have changed so much since I was young and meeting people.
Work, groups, going to social events, etc.
Learn jiu-jitsu or judo, you get to know everybody.
