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Originally Posted by roachboy
sailor: sorry that you are having a rough time of it---first, where in germany are you? i did a few years in paris--there seemed to me to be almost a rhythm of depression/homesickenss--once after the novelty of being ther at all wore off, another at about 3 months (which lined up with the onset of winter, which in paris is a long grey period--not seing the sun for it would seem like weeks at a time was a definite factor in that)....the second phase seemed longer and much more of a grind than the first, but it dissipated....if my experience is any guide, you should find it easier with some time....
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I'm in Tübingen, a town south of Stuttgart. The homesickness does seem to come in cycles. Got here, it was bad for a few days, then I was fine for a month, then it set in, went away, and now its back, hard. And hey, winter here isn't gonna be nice either--it's Germany
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as for meeting folk: are you there on a fellowship (a daad or fulbright or some such)--if you are, then it usually is the case that the fellowship sponsor will hold some events for awardees that can operate as the basis for meeting others in your position--which forms the base for possible alliances/support/maybe firendships even.
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the problem was, in the end, massive self-consciousness about my spoken french. this meant that i was often in bars or cafes when i was feeling most outgoing in french--it also meant that mosto f the folk i met initially were pretty much as you woudl expect anywhere, if you are hoping to make freidns from amongst barpeople--high fuckup ratio, etc..
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I'm not here with any sort of program unfortunately, and there are only two other people from my home university (Chapel Hill), one of whom I never really hang out with. I've noticed that my biggest problem with the language is self-consciousness too, whether or not I feel like it. When I've been drinking, or am just tired or don't care, I can speak pretty well, but if not, it's terrible.
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in paris it is pretty easy to find folk who want to exchange french for english conversation--you would meet up and talk for a while first in one language then in the other--that can be a structured way to get to know someone.
but this kind of thing might be easier to find in a bigger city than in a small one or town.
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I'm in a university town, and there is tons of this around. I actually got a few numbers yesterday in class for this; I'll have to look into it. If nothing else, it would help my German.
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i seem to remember that you enjuoy cycling: are you doing it there? if not, you should...it'll help your head. the might also be cycling clubs that you could at least check out, and these too might be a good way to meet folk who have an interest or more in common with you.
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Unfortunately no. I don't have my bike here (too expensive to ship) and can't afford a new one anyways, and besides, the winter here is going to make it difficult to do much serious riding anyways. I do miss it though
Sorry for the multiple posts, I didn't really see any other way to easily respond to the posts. I'm going to keep trying to meet people; it's just so hard. I hope I make it through the year, but if things keep being this bad, I may just have to head home early
Keep the comments coming...