Lights Posted June 18, 2007 Share Posted June 18, 2007 What are good ways to show up in a new place and become an insider? Link to post Share on other sites
Steveto Posted June 18, 2007 Share Posted June 18, 2007 What exactly do you mean by insider? I've lived in 3 countries in the past 6 years..but I'm a people person, so I can pretty much handle meeting new people all the time. I currently live in a small town in central Europe and still meet new people daily and I've lived here for 3 years. Start with neighbours or work colleagues..They can show you where they go..meet their friends and take it from there. Steve Link to post Share on other sites
Alexandra-Girl Posted June 22, 2007 Share Posted June 22, 2007 As one 'mover and shaker' to another... Coffee shops are great. You sit so close to another that interjecting into anothers conversation is easy. Just bring different ideas in, or ask questions. Frequent it and you get to know the clientele. If it is quiet, play up the comedy by asking to sit with someone because the 'house' is packed - do it with a smile on your face. It works! Join a co-ed team. Check out a recreational facility for listings of leagues. These are GREAT! You can even play up the tourist - carry around a map and ask people where the heck you are. People like to talk. If you are in a new neighborhood ask randoms about the surroundings - you might be pleasently surprised by someone taking you in to show you the ropes. I've met a lot of great people this way. Start with these and I am sure you will be an insider in no time. Good-luck, Alex. Link to post Share on other sites
Steveto Posted June 22, 2007 Share Posted June 22, 2007 Posted this in the wrong post..I need my coffee! <paste> You are right though, jumping into conversations at busy public spaces like the cafe or maybe a small pub-like environment (a dive), IS a great way to start meeting locals, however, it becomes difficult if you are in a country that speaks an entirely different language. Lets just say, not only is there a language barrier (I tend to pick up languages easy, but my grammer bites), but the dialect here sort of their version of Cockney (a native or inhabitant of the East End district of London, England, traditionally, one born and reared within the sound of Bow bells.). This dialect is common in the region where I am located. I'm just saying that sometimes, just sometimes you will hit a wall such as this. English speakers are rare in certain locations, but you will find a couple and that is what you need to look for. Something in common, then the rest falls in place. Even if you don't speak the language, you can still make conversations with body movements and showing people what you mean. I'm going way off here because usually you don't move to a place that you can't exactly communicate to the locals properly, but giving you a scenario where it requires creativity. It's fun now because I have picked up the dialect, so if I don't want to be understood by formal speakers..heh..you get the idea. Alex has some good points..definitely no lack of creativity there. Link to post Share on other sites
Author Lights Posted June 27, 2007 Author Share Posted June 27, 2007 You are right though, jumping into conversations at busy public spaces like the cafe or maybe a small pub-like environment (a dive), IS a great way to start meeting locals, however, it becomes difficult if you are in a country that speaks an entirely different language. Lets just say, not only is there a language barrier (I tend to pick up languages easy, but my grammer bites), but the dialect here sort of their version of Cockney (a native or inhabitant of the East End district of London, England, traditionally, one born and reared within the sound of Bow bells.). That's pretty interesting. May I ask how your situation with the language barrier happened? As one 'mover and shaker' to another... Coffee shops are great. You sit so close to another that interjecting into anothers conversation is easy. Just bring different ideas in, or ask questions. Frequent it and you get to know the clientele... You can even play up the tourist - carry around a map and ask people where the heck you are. People like to talk. If you are in a new neighborhood ask randoms about the surroundings - you might be pleasently surprised by someone taking you in to show you the ropes. I've met a lot of great people this way. Wow. I need to show up in the kinds of countries that are as friendly as that. May I ask where you are currently based, and where you've been to? What exactly do you mean by insider? I've lived in 3 countries in the past 6 years..but I'm a people person, so I can pretty much handle meeting new people all the time. I currently live in a small town in central Europe and still meet new people daily and I've lived here for 3 years. That's pretty cool; may I ask how you arranged that (the 3 countries in 6 years)? Well, it's tough even for me to define what I meant by insider. I'll have to think about it for a bit and come up with a good answer for it. Maybe I shouldn't have asked the question like that. Link to post Share on other sites
Alexandra-Girl Posted June 28, 2007 Share Posted June 28, 2007 The real tip is - Don't go to the huge metropolis areas, but the smaller 250,000 population or less areas. Especially if you want to become an insider (if I am understanding you correctly). For example go and see Meribel, France instead of Paris; or, Pullman, Washington State instead of Seattle; or, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia instead of Halifax. These are less tourist filled and the people you meet are excited to see new faces. I guess what I am saying is sort of like this: You have 8000 dogs sniffing eachothers tails, 200 more join that day, so what is 1 more dog? But if you have 1000 dogs, no new inductees until the 1 new dog (you), I bet there is going to be some introductions. Bottom-line: when you are not used to something new, it is exciting like a honeymoon phase. When you are used to it, it is like being married for 50 years (comfortable with little desire for surprises). Hope this helped - inside my head it did Link to post Share on other sites
Author Lights Posted July 1, 2007 Author Share Posted July 1, 2007 What exactly do you mean by insider? All right, I've thought this through a bit more. By insider I meant someone who is actually welcomed in the local culture, and has managed to accomplish that without necessarily tying him/herself to a given social tribe, and who is in the know about very "hip", "happening" things in the given area at any time without having been forced to sacrifice all his/her time to the cause. Bottom-line: when you are not used to something new, it is exciting like a honeymoon phase. When you are used to it, it is like being married for 50 years (comfortable with little desire for surprises). Hope this helped - inside my head it did That's great, Alexandra-Girl, and thanks for the advice. I'll admit I certainly am looking for something new and that I might be romanticizing what might be out there to be found (as you mentioned regarding honeymoon phases). I'm mainly asking about this so I don't have a repeat of my previous experiences when I move to a new location. Which places have you been to? Link to post Share on other sites
Recommended Posts