Make Friends In 7 Easy Steps!

If you ever find yourself in a new place in need of friends, do the following:

1) Pray.
2) Attend some social function where people are easily met.
3) Converse. Be charming so that they exchange numbers/emails/info with you.*
4) Accept all invitations to group events.**
5) Act as if you've been hanging out with them for years, even if they're [pleasantly] surprised to see you and you feel as if you're awkwardly pushing your way into their circle (which you are, but it needn't be awkward).
6) When in doubt, bring a hostess gift.
7) Be patient.  Someday you'll notice that you're no longer pretending to belong, you actually do belong.


*Get out of charming mode before going to the bus stop or laundromat, because you don't want to give out your digits there.
** Keyword: group.


In September, I prayed to God and asked for friends in France.  As always, He answers in his own time.  Four months later, I've met some fun people to hang out with.. I've even thought, "now that I have them, it'll be a shame to say good-bye in only three short months..."

Every Wednesday I go to a small group Bible study with these friends of mine.  It's in English; there are some Americans, a Canadian, a Kenyan, some Frenchies and others... We meet at different peoples' apartments, sometimes eat quelque choses, sing, have quality discussions... I've gone to the movies and a Peruvian concert (?) with them, eaten Thanksgiving dinner with them, and made cookies with them...

Last Saturday I went to a card-making party (in the same vein as a Mary Kay or Tupperware party, a womanly get-together with the hope that people spend money at the end).  We made BE-U-tiful cards with fancy paper and stamps, while drinking hot apple cider and feeling genteelly domestic (hot cider makes any occasion cheerful, so it was quite a nice time).

Voila. As I told my mom, with my new-and-improved social calendar, I feel like a have a "little life" here in Toulouse. Une petite vie.