Meeting people in the United States is not easy. Because of
the problems mentioned previously, internationals sometimes stick together and
avoid contact with people who live here. The best way to learn more about the
United States is to meet and talk to new people.
There are countless opportunities to meet people in Tucson. On
campus, there are dozens of student organizations. Find a club that shares your
interests or hobbies. Attend the meetings. Remember shared interests are a way
to meet people and to see them more than once. Check the Arizona Daily Wildcat
for each day's meetings.
At CESL get involved in working on the Director's Award. By
joining as many activities as possible and becoming involved in a variety of
activities, you will meet more people, improve your language skills, and
eventually make friends.
We live more or less by the clock.
"Doing" is considered important and "wasting time" in
unproductive activities is discouraged. As someone observed, "When people
are not busy working, they are busy relaxing." When people seem warm and
open with new acquaintances, this does not mean that close friendships are
forming. At social gatherings people readily welcome new people, and the warmth
expressed is genuine and sincere but confined to that occasion and may not
always continue. Close friendships do develop as a result of repeated interactions
and shared interest between individuals.
Another barrier to forming relationships is that the
definition and expectations of "friend" are different in different
cultures. Friendships in the United States tend to be shorter and shallower
than those of other cultures. People have different groups of friends:
"work friends," "school themselves, so be prepared in general.
If you complain constantly, you will not have many conversations with anyone.
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