Suddenly Feel Socially Awkward...

It is kind of tiring constantly being on "Work-Behavior" though when I'm with people other than my husband.

You have summed up my #1 irritation.  I'm glad I'm not the only one... 

I do miss having people in my life that are up for doing most things. (Ok, I miss having ANY people in my life.) You know, the friends who would be up for even walking a carrot on a leash down the street just because.  Ten AM on a Saturday? Walk a carrot? Sure, why not! 

@expatX I know what you mean about having more easy, spontaneous friendships.  I moved about quite a few times in the States. and I missed out on that with my last move, too, as a matter of fact.  I miss having friends you can call at the end of the day just to chat with and friends you can grab a coffee with at the spur of the moment.  I think it gets harder as you get older.  Most of the people I meet already have a friend set and while I get invited here and there to things I miss having a "bestie" to go carrot walking with. 

I need someone to walk carrots with, too

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I agree with everyone above! I had a few people who I knew I could text at 3 am and ask to go for a walk just because and it's hard being away from that. I think making friends after you get out of school is hard anywhere in the world (as evidenced by all my best friends being from my school years, and the friends of anyone I know in the UK all being from school) but it can be so disheartening feeling like I have to be attached to my husband's butt like a barnacle 24/7 just to get some social interaction.

but it can be so disheartening feeling like I have to be attached to my husband's butt like a barnacle 24/7 just to get some social interaction.

Exactly!!!!  I feel so bad for my husband because he always invites me to events with his work colleagues, but often I'm the odd female out.  I got another job rejection yesterday and it really made me miss being able to call my friends and say, "Let's go out for drinks" or "come over and bring lots of ice cream".  Most of all I miss getting together with my friends for brunch on the weekends.  Brunch club anyone?

Instead of a carrot, anyone want to walk a cat with me   (yes, one of my cats actually walks on a lead).

Instead of a carrot, anyone want to walk a cat with me   (yes, one of my cats actually walks on a lead).

 

Most of all I miss getting together with my friends for brunch on the weekends.  Brunch club anyone?

Instead of a carrot, anyone want to walk a cat with me   (yes, one of my cats actually walks on a lead).

I have to say I agree with everything everybody said above as well! While I get on quite well with people at work and my husband's friends, there just seems to be something missing or that I'm always that "tolken American". Gets old really quick and I have to do a lot of pretending to go along with it as I know they aren't being cruel or anything. Seems like sometimes my comments get lost a bit in translation.

I would LOVE to have a brunch club! hahaha I don't have a cat, but I do have a dog! I think we need to start a big "pet walking" group / pet playtime group! hahahah Just to get coffees, chat, and walk our furry friends

God I miss Boston in summer time as well. I miss having friends that you could just organize a random beach trip with. Here it seems like everybody has been friends since primary school or at least college and it's really hard to break into those groups and feel part of them.... Being 25, it's like you aren't young enough to fit in with one crowd, and you aren't old enough to fit in with the other without them treating you like their child or something...I'm definitely in my "sit inside watching netflix with my dog" phase after 2 years in the country and no really close friends that are exclusively mine

Amen sista! 

I've started responding to my partner's friends with "do they have ____ in the Uk?!?" every time I'm asked if they have something in America.  I do it basically to be an ass...cuz it does get old really quickly. 

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Amen sista! 

I've started responding to my partner's friends with "do they have ____ in the Uk?!?" every time I'm asked if they have something in America.  I do it basically to be an ass...cuz it does get old really quickly. 

hahaha YES! I've started to just reply back with questions of the same level  - mostly because I'm comfortable enough with my husband's friends at this point that I can take the p*ss out of them and not offend but ALSO because it definitely DOES get old quick! hah

Ditto on the Netflix!  Just finished a marathon of OITNB.  This post might get moved by the moderator to the meet up board, but if anyone wants to meet up for coffee, brunch, or something else, I'm game.  Not entirely sure where everyone is based, but I'm in the Greater Manchester area so getting to places like Manchester, Liverpool, Chester, Sheffield, and Leeds aren't too difficult.  I used to spend time in the south (Swindon) as that is where my husband works M-Th, but because I'm going to through the job search process, I have been spending more time up here.

We have a Midlands group on Facebook for local Americans, but that's like the Birmingham area. But we are more than up for a hang out if ya wanted to make the trek!! It's a group of women in their 20's - 30's, hahs

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Ditto on the Netflix!  Just finished a marathon of OITNB.  This post might get moved by the moderator to the meet up board, but if anyone wants to meet up for coffee, brunch, or something else, I'm game.  Not entirely sure where everyone is based, but I'm in the Greater Manchester area so getting to places like Manchester, Liverpool, Chester, Sheffield, and Leeds aren't too difficult.

1. YES! OITNB was SO good! I had to actively try to slow down on watching it [limiting myself to only 2 or 3 a night - but we ended up watching 4 or 5 some days! haha]. NOT happy to be waiting another year for the next season, as with GoT, but using this time to catch up on other shows and movies!

2. Would have definitely been down to meet up! But Manchester is a biiiiit too far for me unfortunately I'm much further the south.

It really helps reading through this thread knowing I'm not alone! I love it  here and really enjoy the culture but I haven't really met anybody to hang out with. I went from being Miss Social in TX to spending lots of time at the gym or watching Netflix.  I was concerned about blending in but now I'm just trying to be myself and start going to more meetu groups. It's definitely difficult to make friends!

It really helps reading through this thread knowing I'm not alone! I love it  here and really enjoy the culture but I haven't really met anybody to hang out with. I went from being Miss Social in TX to spending lots of time at the gym or watching Netflix.  I was concerned about blending in but now I'm just trying to be myself and start going to more meetu groups. It's definitely difficult to make friends!

Where abouts in the country do you live now?

I've been here for 14 years and still don't feel I really fit in, although I do have quite a few friends. On the other hand, when I go back to Texas, I also feel I don't fit in. It all goes with being an expat, I suppose. You just have to learn to roll with it.