New continent, New Life, New People?

[hir0 49]

Hello

So I moved to the U.S. a bit over a month ago. Being in a city where almost everyone is out by car (there is literally nothing in a walking distance) I wanted to know how I could find myself new hobbies and/or interact with people. I miss interacting with people and I'm home all day.. even once I'll have a car I don't know exactly where I'll go. I thought about joining a gym and taking Zumba classes and discovering the city a bit (I haven't seen much yet).

I would love to interact with people, even online but most websites are mostly about dating and I'm not interested in that, I'm happily married - newlyweds hehe.

Do you have any advices? Any is welcome.

Thank you so much !!

[Derbo/Yamkins 4]

You can look for jobs if you plan on working.

See if you have a local community of immigrants from your country. If you want someone who went through the same thing. Try the Belgian forums here, if you find someone, set up a meeting or lunch date.

Try Yelp to discover new places to eat and shop.

Go visit your spouse's workplace if you can, meet coworkers. Ask your spouse to give you a tour at work or the local area.

Or as newly weds....uhh...make babies. ?

[hir0 49]

You can look for jobs if you plan on working.

See if you have a local community of immigrants from your country. If you want someone who went through the same thing. Try the Belgian forums here, if you find someone, set up a meeting or lunch date.

Try Yelp to discover new places to eat and shop.

Go visit your spouse's workplace if you can, meet coworkers. Ask your spouse to give you a tour at work or the local area.

Or as newly weds....uhh...make babies. ?

Lol at the 'make babies' comment, it really made me smile. Unfortunatelly we have to wait, I need to still need to finish college and we're not ready yet.

I can't go to my husband's workplace as it is a warehouse and they don't allow visitors. Once I'll have my pwn car I plan on surprising him for lunch ^^

I definitely want to work but we havent applied for the AOS yet, I looked around a bit but can't really apply yet. Once we'll send everything in and I'll have the NOA1 I'll start applying.

I will definitely look for expats here, thank you !

[agnesb 47]

You can volunteer, try meetup.com, walk around the neighbourhood or local park or wherever people walk their dogs, bike or jog. Check out events in the area and go to the ones that interest you. Americans are really friendly and always up for a chat in my opinion.

[Darnell 8,479]

so, what's between your house and husband's workplace?

use google maps to figure it out,

then get dropped off each day at a place that has lots of humans to talk with, on the way to his work.

or buy a 49.5 CC scooter, not need a license to drive it ..

if yer really in Memphis, I suggest:

1. hanging out a the University, learning the student groups there.

2. hanging out at the university, in the library, studying the local newspapers and business listing books.

3. getting to the chamber of commerce and volunteering for everything you can, there. why? business owners attend these things, you can learn about business in usa and even ask for a job in a non-hiring event.

Edited February 5, 2015 by Darnell

[hir0 49]

Hi Darnell,

Hi agnesb,

Thank you for your answer.

Beside stores and restaurants there isnmt much on his way.. he also leaves at 5AM and comes back at 5PM. It wouldn't be very safe for me to just be outside like that. It's a bit dangerous in certain parts.

Also we don't live downtown, I haven't seen any bus stop near by or anything... The closest store is about 50min walk from here and my husband doesn't feel secured knowing I'm out by myself ^^

Therefor for everything outside the house I'll have to wait to be on my own. I will jut wait to get a car, I don't want to buy a scooter I would just have for 1/2 months, it's money I can put towards a car :/

We're not close to downtown Memphis, and I've only been there 3x ... therefore it's not really where I'd go unless I have a job there.

I'm a bit worried here since it's also a bit dangerous with all the shootings and burglaries.

That's why I would like to make online friends for now

[agnesb 47]

Hi Darnell,

Hi agnesb,

Thank you for your answer.

Beside stores and restaurants there isnmt much on his way.. he also leaves at 5AM and comes back at 5PM. It wouldn't be very safe for me to just be outside like that. It's a bit dangerous in certain parts.

Also we don't live downtown, I haven't seen any bus stop near by or anything... The closest store is about 50min walk from here and my husband doesn't feel secured knowing I'm out by myself ^^

Therefor for everything outside the house I'll have to wait to be on my own. I will jut wait to get a car, I don't want to buy a scooter I would just have for 1/2 months, it's money I can put towards a car :/

We're not close to downtown Memphis, and I've only been there 3x ... therefore it's not really where I'd go unless I have a job there.

I'm a bit worried here since it's also a bit dangerous with all the shootings and burglaries.

That's why I would like to make online friends for now

I get you. I felt like that after arriving to US and hearing about shooting or pedestrians hit every single day in Orlando. It was real and close. We lived downtown for first few months and was terrified of walking around by myself. After moving to suburbs I still felt strange and out of place but it passed and I hope you'll feel confident being by yourself soon. Maybe a google maps scout will help you familiarize yourself with the area and who knows maybe you'll find an organization nearby where you could volunteer, a library or a park?

[vicks5721 18]

I will be moving to a small town/Village in America and I already know there won't be much to do, I plan to go out and explore the neighbourhood and take loads of photos, I will join his church and I hope to make friends that way, luckily though his parents live nearby so that will help things to have them to talk to, his sisters live in two different towns 35 minutes drive away, supermarkets are 30 minutes drive, a larger town is 40 minutes drive, the city is an hour drive, but I know we will go when we can mostly weekends. I am okay with it though, the only thing I will have to get used to is no bus routes or train stations, and I still haven't learnt to drive, I hope to get my learners permit when possible and his dad has already offered to teach me. I am glad though about moving to a nice calm location and small community, it will be a nice change from the busyness of my hometown and the city of London. I love the outdoors, the downside at first is it will be freezing cold when I arrive, but I will manage, and then I will probably stay in watching tv, skyping with family and friends and reading when it is too cold to go out.

[hir0 49]

I will be moving to a small town/Village in America and I already know there won't be much to do, I plan to go out and explore the neighbourhood and take loads of photos, I will join his church and I hope to make friends that way, luckily though his parents live nearby so that will help things to have them to talk to, his sisters live in two different towns 35 minutes drive away, supermarkets are 30 minutes drive, a larger town is 40 minutes drive, the city is an hour drive, but I know we will go when we can mostly weekends. I am okay with it though, the only thing I will have to get used to is no bus routes or train stations, and I still haven't learnt to drive, I hope to get my learners permit when possible and his dad has already offered to teach me. I am glad though about moving to a nice calm location and small community, it will be a nice change from the busyness of my hometown and the city of London. I love the outdoors, the downside at first is it will be freezing cold when I arrive, but I will manage, and then I will probably stay in watching tv, skyping with family and friends and reading when it is too cold to go out.

It's good that you already have all that planned, I wish you good luck

Driving is - to me - a lot easier in the U.S., once you have your SSN you can apply for a driving license. You will have to learn for the permit but you'll see it will go easy.

I've started working on the AOS and trying to figure it all out, I hope to apply before the end of the month

[Mochara 2]

I get you. I felt like that after arriving to US and hearing about shooting or pedestrians hit every single day in Orlando. It was real and close. We lived downtown for first few months and was terrified of walking around by myself. After moving to suburbs I still felt strange and out of place but it passed and I hope you'll feel confident being by yourself soon. Maybe a google maps scout will help you familiarize yourself with the area and who knows maybe you'll find an organization nearby where you could volunteer, a library or a park?

Hi agnes, im literally in the same situation as you were in!

Im outside Orlando, and theres literally ####### all to do, no bus'es, people, anything really, its a very small town. but I imagine when I start working things will pick up.

[Mochara 2]

Hi hiro,

Seeems like youve exhausted most options. Im the same as you, I was from a big city where you could walk places, get a bus into town, spend time in the city or join clubs, but where i am now theres not alot to do.

I mainly keep myself sane by running, going the gym, chatting online, talking to friends back home and the likes.
I miss home big time:(
Im in florida and to be honest the area i'm in has alot of junkies and bad characters. not to mention vicious dogs that are not locked up adequately at all.

I'd say just keep putting yourself out there. a job will help you meet people, and maybe a class or workshop. I've considered zumba but I dont think the crowd that attend are my type. There a library here too but the people are insanely rude and hostile to me!

Maybe its my accent alot of people have no idea what i'm saying, it can be very frustrating.

Soon as i get my Green card i'm moving to another state!

[agnesb 47]

Hi agnes, im literally in the same situation as you were in!

Im outside Orlando, and theres literally ####### all to do, no bus'es, people, anything really, its a very small town. but I imagine when I start working things will pick up.

Yes public transportation around Orlando is really bad, i was lucky that both downtown and southwest orlando i was within cycling distance to shops, restaurants library etc. and after overcoming that "out of place/they know im not from around here" feeling I was fine also getting a dog was a great idea for me :-)

[Mochara 2]

Yeah I wanted to get a dog, but have my own back in Ireland, kinda feel like im betraying her! I've heard alot of bad stuff about Orlando from locals here but figure it cant be that bloody bad if people live there.

[vicks5721 18]

It's good that you already have all that planned, I wish you good luck

Driving is - to me - a lot easier in the U.S., once you have your SSN you can apply for a driving license. You will have to learn for the permit but you'll see it will go easy.

I've started working on the AOS and trying to figure it all out, I hope to apply before the end of the month

Yep had everything planned months ago,as my fiance has told me lots of ideas of things I can do in my free time and his family have been really helpful as well.

I am looking forward to learning to drive! I can't wait to get started!

[Holly2234 66]

My life started to come together through work. I still dont have any friends but i have people to speak to at work so it makes a big difference.

I live in a very small town so a lot of people know who i am already or would be able to get to know quickly if they wanted to so i tend to avoid getting close to people because everybody here just seems to snipe at or about each other or try to cause trouble. Definitely not my scene!