Loneliness when you're abroad
I personaly suffered on week ends while I was in the UK. Even if I had several friends, I often missed my family and friends (from home). So I walked, visited museum, went to concerts, worked more... What about you?
What are you doing when you feel lonely?
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In Canada, I find it much harder.聽 I find too many people here are so flakey and always go back on their word for meeting up.聽 I'd rather have one reliable friend than many flakey ones.聽 I'm not sure if this is just a Vancouver issue but people certainly have a fear of commitment here.
I've always enjoyed going out and exploring on my own.聽 Now that I'm really into photography, I never run out of things to keep me busy.
But saying that, I am off to Yahoo groups now to find some pals

Reading is good for me. You're never alone with a book.
In many countries if you are of undesirable color or nationality you will feel lonely becuase the locals will simply not like you. Example would be non-white foreigners in Japan. These are not liked and people just don't want to talk to them.
A Japanese would not feel lonley in a place like Cambodia since people will want to talk to him and make friends with him but not the other way around ( if a Cambodian went to Japan).
Anglos rarely feel lonely when they in Latin countries especially if they know the language. That is why you rarely see a complain from a Brit about being lonely in, say, Brazil.
If you are feeling lonely after you have learned the language of the country , I suggest either join some groups there or start contemplating moving to a better place where people are not that "cold".
My friends are all UK based, so I just use the wonders of the internet to keep in touch with them, seeing them when I'm on trips to the UK.
Having said that, my wife doesn't have many real friends (From what I see, the Japanese don't... they tend to rely on family and a few close friends). She just got a fair few more after her time in the UK, with the other Japanese who were in the same situation as her. A lot of those friends are friends with me too, which is useful because they can all speak English to varying levels.
Finally, I caved and made some "anglo" friends that I met online. A year and a half later, and I haven't looked back. The first three years of total immersion in French was the key to learning and understanding the language and culture, but making real friends with whom I had something in common changed my life and made me appreciate this experience one thousand-fold.
Why was Seattle so lonely?

I really believe the best way to meet people is through your colleague. If you are lucky enough to have enough colleague to be friend with!
Apparently another really good is through children. Next time I move abroad, I'll wait to have some children!
I'm a housewife, traveling with hubby and keep him sane during his often insane job.
Which leaves me with just enough energy to roam the places for pictures and be online and work on my ongoing projects.
Lonely? Sometimes.
Many people, especially Americans just don't get my sense of humour or my way of living / talking in general.
I'm open & straightforward. Most people can't take it.
So, I end up meeting them once, twice and then just stay away

I'm weird

(Note: I just posted this to another thread, similar to this one)
Im hoping that as time goes on I will meet more and more people and have the chance to get out and be more social.
Like you all.... Merry Christmas.
Being alone these days sucks, but having at least some sort of contact makes it easier.
Hope you have a decent time!}
Best wishes!
tambok wrote:Anglos rarely feel lonely when they in Latin countries especially if they know the language. That is why you rarely see a complain from a Brit about being lonely in, say, Brazil.
That's just not true: every country has its gregarious cultures and also it's stuffy cultures.聽 I live in the sierra in Peru and it's pretty hard to make friends if you're not into the bricheros and the bar scene.
There's a whole 'you people all look the same' thing going on that inhibits friendships quite intensely.
sailyne wrote:I found it difficult to me people when we work and live in the Greater London Area (I mean zone 3 to 6).
Apparently another really good is through children. Next time I move abroad, I'll wait to have some children!
If you're in those areas, my best tip, as an ex-Londoner, is to get a dog.聽 The dog walkers are a real tight community.聽 Good luck!

I know that in my own country, with family and friends this stage could be easier...
Of course you have reasons to feel lonelier (or more lonely ?!) than before because you were building something with someone. With the idea of seeing each other every other week, it's always easier.
I myself am between sea (where I live) and mountains (where my boyfriend lives) and it gets hectic sometimes.
However, I never felt that it was because people didn't want me there.聽 Actually I found people wanted to speak to me and try their English out on me.聽 One older man in Kyoto stopped me and said we don't often get non-white visitors here but welcome and I hope you have fun.聽 I thought that was sooo sweet.
I think in a place like Japan there are hardly any non-white visitors or rarely seen that at first it might appear to come off as dislike because yes sometimes they will just look and not say anything.聽 Many times when I would reciprocate my gaze I was met with a smile.聽 I'm also not naive, I'm sure some people did dislike me but I never felt that my entire trip there.聽 My white male friend who I went to visit did experience what you said.聽 He lived in a small town in Northern Honshu and the people who were his friends in the town were social outcasts.聽 He told me of a time where someone crossed the other side of the street because he was coming.聽 However, after being there for some time (he lived and taught English for a year) people became more accepting.聽 Again I can only give my perspective on being black and in Japan.聽 I know you give examples of other ethnic groups and how it would be for them.
I loved my time in Japan and I would go there again in a heart beat!聽 Highly recommended trip.
I tend to be a very easy going person and can navigate myself in any social setting and feel comfortable, however, I missed my family and friends terribly and just wanted to leave and go home to see them.
That is behind me, it really just took some time to adjust and get my footing here.聽 I have friends, one really close one.聽 I explore the city a lot, I study because I have to being a law student.聽 I'm looking for a part time job so before I know it my time will be very occupied.聽 I'm enjoying whatever spare time I have now.
However I know for sure visitors are loved and cared for by a lot of people. Most of the Non-Sotho speakers would recieve recognition by the betterly educated peole and hence communication would be continuous depending on the basement of the link. Unfortunately if you are a foreigner and happen to say even a single word in English to any "under-educated" individual you may be tempted to conclude that you have met the most unfriendly nation.
So if you have also been around here and happened to encounter the most lonely days of your live; would you kindly share your experience with us on this forum.
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Jo Ann wrote:Sly, I'm sorry to hear that.
Of course you have reasons to feel lonelier (or more lonely ?!) than before because you were building something with someone. With the idea of seeing each other every other week, it's always easier.
I myself am between sea (where I live) and mountains (where my boyfriend lives) and it gets hectic sometimes.
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