the friend hunt

I have never really had any shortage of friends when growing up and have never found it too difficult to make new friends (my three years in Newcastle are proof of this at least) but when you put a language barrier and a lack of social club/study meetings in there, turns out meeting peers is a fairly difficult thing to do. Don’t get me wrong, I have met many a wonderful person during my first three weeks just, usually that person is between the age of 6 and 12 or is a parent of a person between the age of 6 and 12. Acknowledging this problem of mines has made me do some stranger things to help me make friends, one of the main and probably least success is the getting lost method. I have done this about three times now, each time a failure. Basically I take my bike and go exploring with the goal to get lost so I have to talk to someone to find my way back (and maybe invite for coffee to be my friend). The main flaw in this plan is that fact that I am on my bike, cycling past people doesn’t make it so easy to talk to them. The first time I attempted this I missed an opportunity, a guy was lost and was asking me for directions IN ENGLISH. Unfortunately I wasn’t able to help him as I don’t know my way around the city that well. Although I did come away with a “friend” at the end of the day, whilst reading my book and listening to my ipod on my way home on the hochbahn (the metro/tube/train thingy) a 2 year old decided he wanted my bracelet and tried to mug me off it, and then to prove his street skills even further, after his mother put him into his pram he decided to pick pocket my ipod from me. Possible fagin’s gang member, I do have my suspicions.

The second method for making friends (take note all future au pairs) is facebook. As it turns out there is a facebook group for au pairs in Hamburg!! How amazing, more desperate people looking for friends like me! So far I have gained a few numbers, but yet to meet anyone due to working hours and how skint I am, but that’s soon to change. (it’s like online dating but with an au pair twist).

The third method is accepting any offers of “play dates” from nieces, cousins of the family or any of their friends. FRIENDS ARE NEEDED! I’m slowly forgetting how to communicate with adults who actually understand me. 

The goal is to have less pictures like this

and this (my fake friends)

and more pictures like this

                                                                                    and this

and maybe even this

In saying that, I have been lucky to have already known one person here from orchestra and through her I've been able to play in an orchestra this week! Must say, I had nearly forgotten just how much I love playing in ensembles. Afterwards there was of course, orchestra drinks but slightly more upmarket than we are use to. It took place in an Italian restaurant! The most successful evening making friends yet, just need to keep going back now to maintain their friendship. 

Quick Break down of activities ( I know this is the part you want to know really)

Went to a garden party, went to the park with the boys and their friend, tried to get lost on bike and busted my back wheel, started German lessons (close to making friends there) bought some wool, made a friendship bracelet with Fabi (because we are tots bessies now!) seen some amazing fireworks, went to orchestra, went to football practice, played some cello, played some horn, played some violin, played some guitar, played lots of football and last but not least GOT PAID!!