What are ways of making new friends in England?

IP: *.aster.pl 23.06.08, 14:59
Hello. We are a family of three people moving to England soon. I would like to
make new friends there especialy I would like to meet other English families
with children and I am aware that in every counties there are certain things
you don't know ussually when you are from abroad. Can you give me some tips,
where it is common to make friends, how do you do this, what to avoid? Can I
simply ask a person on a playground to make friends, or my neighbour for a
tea? Many thanks for your reply.
    • jonathan.oakley Re: What are ways of making new friends in Englan 23.06.08, 19:57
      Hi. Please find below a useful site for making new friends in your
      locality:

      www.people-connection.co.uk/
      There are over 100 Polish associations in the UK and the site below
      is the perfect portal:

      www.ucl.ac.uk/atlas/polish/community.html
      Making friends should be a natural process though can accelarated by
      joining local clubs, attending local events, helping with local fund
      raising events and so on.

      Thanks for your question and...Good luck! :-)
    • tbo5r Re: What are ways of making new friends in Englan 07.07.08, 00:32
      Most of the English will always look down on you. The very sound of
      a foreign accent gives them a big, flashing red light "Immigrant!"
      As of the Poles in the UK - it's best to avoid them at any cost
      it's best to make friend with Russians, Italians and other Spics and
      Wops, even Somalis
      • jonathan.oakley Re: What are ways of making new friends in Englan 07.07.08, 22:29
        The British are, essentially, a tribe of immigrants. The Queen can
        trace her ancestory back to the House of Saxe-Coburg which spawned
        monachs in Germany, Belgium and many other European countries. The
        very name 'England' is taken from the 'Angles' - a Germanic tribe
        who settled here in the 5th century. What is the diffence between
        the people of one country and those of another? Some would say that
        it is only langauge and that nationality is but a construct. Those
        who are unable to understand this usually do so through a lack of
        knowledge, which leads to ignorance and then fear.

        ~a closed mind is like a closed book: just a block of wood~
        Chinese Proverb
        • Gość: tbo5r Re: What are ways of making new friends in Englan IP: 193.129.71.* 08.07.08, 02:37
          The new arrivals are unlikely to hang around with the elites of the
          Isles, but rather end up in some dailymailite backwater.
          My point is that Anna should be aware that she will leave her
          friends in Poland and she is unlikely to make new ones.
          I tried a few times myself and I must say that I don't really
          understand the locals. It is hard to build understanding. let alone
          friendship when inner worlds are so different. The English are
          basically weirdos
          • Gość: polishhamster Re: What are ways of making new friends in Englan IP: 62.69.217.* 08.07.08, 17:08
            It's a pity that tbo5r's obviously had no luck but I think that's
            due to other factors than just locals. You said you were a family of
            three - if one is a young child you could try mother and toddler
            groups, or go to the local church (they often have women's groups
            etc). You can strike up conversations in the park but don't expect
            people to invite you to their house straightaway (if at all - they
            may see you're desperate!). Maybe you could also try the Parent
            Teacher Association if your child is of school age - at least you
            will feel involved. And there are always clubs run from the local
            Adult Education Institute, but you should remember that they cost
            and that you might have to join something that you wouldn't normally
            think of doing at home. Then again, it's worth learning something
            new! Personally, I've never had much trouble meeting people wherever
            I've lived, but then I've always got involved with the local
            community. The worst you can do is sit at home and wait for people
            to turn up on your doorstep, and the second worse thing is to hang
            out with people of your own nationality simply because there's
            nothing else. You may not make friends like you had at home (if you
            spent a long time in one town) but at least you won't feel isolated.
            Good luck in the UK!
          • jonathan.oakley Re: What are ways of making new friends in Englan 08.07.08, 21:53
            LOL!! I can see why you've had problems making friends. Having the
            right mind set is the key to chilling with the locals. How do you
            bond in Poland then?
            • tbo5r Re: What are ways of making new friends in Englan 10.07.08, 03:54
              I am actually quite an introvert person with bordeline Aspergers
              syndrome, so I fit in England pretty well. But the English totally
              crack me up with their idiosyncracies, status obsessions, maniacal
              lawn mowing and house improvements, not to mention archaic double
              taps. My neighbours are just like me, I barely see them sprinting
              from cars to houses, otherwise I might swear that the whole
              population of the development fell victim to some pestilence :)
              I don't mind not making friends here, I have a job I like, many
              channels on (Polish) satellite TV and broadband to rant about the
              locals. I am happy here :)
              • jonathan.oakley Re: What are ways of making new friends in Englan 10.07.08, 22:05
                Considering your borderline Aspergers Syndrome I admire you for
                basing yourself in the UK. A few months ago I was in Newcastle for a
                weekend and the locals wouldn't stop talking to myself and the
                people I was with. Complete strangers would come up to us and start
                chatting away as if they were old friends. Without wanting
                generalize (but I will!) I would say it is much easier to make
                friends up North. :-)
    • syso Re: What are ways of making new friends in Englan 09.07.08, 15:14
      tbo5r, can see now why it's difficult for you to make new friends with this
      attitude ;-) Although, must say I haven't made lots of friends myself. And the
      ones I have are other nationalities except for my fantastic neighbour friend who
      just happened to be my soul mate :-) I'm not complaining though, I don't need to
      be friends with many people. It's enough for me that the British are generally
      very polite so you have nice and proper relationship with the people around you.
      And as it it my first post here I'd like to say hello and big thanks to Jonathan
      for helping others :-)))
      • jonathan.oakley Re: What are ways of making new friends in Englan 09.07.08, 19:49
        Hi! Tks for your kind comments. Lucky you if you've found a soul
        mate!! :-)
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