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Q: What's a good way to make local friends if you don't like the bar scene/partying?
I was lucky enough to find a cafe run by Americans when i arrived.
This was a good focal point for meeting locals who had a reasonable amount of English.
a few became friends over time through shared interests such as hiking.
You have to persist through tolerating the locals looking for 'face' friendships - there are great people who prove to be good friends.
Equally, some of my colleagues joined an amateur mixed (male and female) tag rugby league.
Many locals joined in and it was a great way to combine socializing with exercise.
Alternatively you could hang out in Burger King and you will find yourself the source of much attention from girls who want to be your friend 
Here's to you Vicky
Karma101:
Haha, I don’t think she is coming back…by the way, judging from her posts… It’s highly unlikely she would open a thread that does not have her name written on it's initiated by her...
I was lucky enough to find a cafe run by Americans when i arrived.
This was a good focal point for meeting locals who had a reasonable amount of English.
a few became friends over time through shared interests such as hiking.
You have to persist through tolerating the locals looking for 'face' friendships - there are great people who prove to be good friends.
Equally, some of my colleagues joined an amateur mixed (male and female) tag rugby league.
Many locals joined in and it was a great way to combine socializing with exercise.
Alternatively you could hang out in Burger King and you will find yourself the source of much attention from girls who want to be your friend
Here's to you Vicky
Karma101:
Haha, I don’t think she is coming back…by the way, judging from her posts… It’s highly unlikely she would open a thread that does not have her name written on it's initiated by her...
Hung out with, dated, and eventually married a student...
She was working on an MA but still...I'm a bad bad man...don't work there any more!
join a gym
Karma101:
No mate, It never works out, if it does… then you can’t work out. The best workout is if you do it alone without interruptions. I don't like to listen to music while doing weights, but I still wear a headphone just to avoid a small a talk... It's better that way.
You know odd thing though: last week post workout In the locker room, this guy sparked a conversation with me in English... the man was using the locker right next to mine... without looking at him I answered the usual generic questions, nothing odd right?... well he was awkwardly close to me and completely "bare"... not just that, he said you dressed like a typical Indian guy... and I just had a towel wrapped around my waist... was kinda awkward 
I would go as far to say that meeting local friends at a bar / club is probably the WORST way to go about it. Better to just pursue your own hobbies and make friends on the way, you're not missing much in the bars.
I agree with WooMow. What are you interested in? There's probably a club for it somewhere and if you're lucky they'll speak some English.
