It's really weird that I'm even writing this. I've never had to think about making friends before.
In elementary school there were barely any students in my class, so naturally you are forced to know everyone. In high school IB did a pretty good job deciding for me who I'd be spending my days with - then from there deciding who to hang out with is a no brainer, after all you are again forced to know everyone. In Uni though things are different. I'm not going to be have the system alienate a large group of students from me that I will be forced to spend time with - everyone is an option to be a friend. Sounds great - accept that's true for the opposite side too. Since others won't be forced to hang with me, they're going to have trouble finding me and vice versa.
So it makes for a simple overall strategy - just be the most social being in the campus. Let as many people as possible know me and then good friends will come to me. But so will bad ones....
Maybe this isn't so simple after all.
Okay then I need to get more picky. Maybe observing and tracking for students that fit a general criteria and then being incredibly open and social to those specifics may work out better. That way I'm not simply introducing myself to everyone but instead only to those I think I might have a real chance of becoming close friends with.
Obviously there are going to be exceptions to this plan. For example, I'm going to need to get to know everyone on my dorm room floor, regardless of who they are. Those are the people I'm going to be sharing my kitchen and bathroom with - I'm going to need to know who is around me.
I'm also going to need to find friends in my classes. If there is one thing IB taught me is that I'm a social worker (read: likes to work with others).
I'm also going to need to find friends in my classes. If there is one thing IB taught me is that I'm a social worker (read: likes to work with others).
But as far as those two exceptions, I want to make real, true friendships with people that are interested in my interests. That kind of leads into that "general criteria" I was talking about earlier. I have certain interests and I like certain activities - I'm going to need friends that I can spend time with talking about those interests and participating in those activities with me. (Just like Google+) I'm going to be calling each interest a circle. They are as follows.
Circle 1: Indians
I'm a Bollywood lover, what can I say? I need a group of friends to replace my cultural community at home and could possibly connect me to my new home's cultural community.
I talk Bollywood and I watch Bollywood. I'm going to need a group of friends that I can watch movies with.
Along with that I love to dance too, finding a bhangra or Bollywood dance team I can join is a priority.
I'm a Bollywood lover, what can I say? I need a group of friends to replace my cultural community at home and could possibly connect me to my new home's cultural community.
I talk Bollywood and I watch Bollywood. I'm going to need a group of friends that I can watch movies with.
Along with that I love to dance too, finding a bhangra or Bollywood dance team I can join is a priority.
Circle 2: Android, Google and Technology
I love my tech, and though the Google+ crowd can pretty much suffice for my social tech needs, having people that can watch Google I/O with me and talk extensively about the differences between
I love my tech, and though the Google+ crowd can pretty much suffice for my social tech needs, having people that can watch Google I/O with me and talk extensively about the differences between
Circle 3: Basketball and Gym
It's both a long time hobby and a recent interest. I love basketball and I'm learning to love working on my body at the gym. I'm going to need friends to work out with me and possibly play ball with me. Though I could do both by myself I wouldn't mind at least knowing people that I could play with if I ever felt the need. Finding NBA fans would be really helpful too.
It's both a long time hobby and a recent interest. I love basketball and I'm learning to love working on my body at the gym. I'm going to need friends to work out with me and possibly play ball with me. Though I could do both by myself I wouldn't mind at least knowing people that I could play with if I ever felt the need. Finding NBA fans would be really helpful too.
Really, I don't need to ask for much.
Looking at all of this it seems like the best possible option is if I find an Indian group of friends in which some members double into the other circles. Hopefully I won't have to create an Indian group like this but rather join an existing one. Worst case scenario is that barely any Indians decide to go to my university - though I doubt that's the case.
19/08/2013
Looking at all of this it seems like the best possible option is if I find an Indian group of friends in which some members double into the other circles. Hopefully I won't have to create an Indian group like this but rather join an existing one. Worst case scenario is that barely any Indians decide to go to my university - though I doubt that's the case.
19/08/2013
Well Move In Day was today and honestly I'm not off to a good start. I've barely talked to anyone and I haven't seen any desi kids at all. I don't want to be completely unsocial at university, but I haven't really met anyone that would make a really good friend or friends. The student advisors are great people I'm sure of it, but not really good friend material. They've already made their own friends from previous years.
As for the others, it seems that the people who are connecting are the ones drinking together. It seems like I'll have to wait until classes start before I find anyone I can relate to. :-\
25/08/2013
25/08/2013
Second day here and it really feels like my floor mates will become a family - at least for this first year.
26/08/2013
Okay so my floor is the best in all of the dorm. And we're really proud of it. It's awesome that we are because I take so much pride in what I belong in and it's great that the others do too. I might go a little overboard - I need to socialize with the others too.
I met an awesome friend from way back in the scouting days (10 years ago at least). I'm really glad to have re-met him and him and my floor mates are really getting me to open up. I'm going to try and be a lot more social in the next few days.
27/08/2013
Okay so my floor is the best in all of the dorm. And we're really proud of it. It's awesome that we are because I take so much pride in what I belong in and it's great that the others do too. I might go a little overboard - I need to socialize with the others too.
I met an awesome friend from way back in the scouting days (10 years ago at least). I'm really glad to have re-met him and him and my floor mates are really getting me to open up. I'm going to try and be a lot more social in the next few days.
27/08/2013
Innovating Life
~ASKalburgi
~ASKalburgi