Teach Middle East Magazine Jan-Feb 2016 Issue 3 Volume 3 | Page 49

Bella Maryann Dear Maryann, Dear Maryann, I'm in my first teaching year, and finding it hard to make genuine friends. Back home, I had a healthy social life. I'm not naturally friendly, but I also don't like doing everything alone. What do you think I should do to make the most of my time in this beautiful, new country and build meaningful relationships? My school has a cafeteria but the food is often outside of my dietary preferences. I'm vegan. Since I'm so busy at work, I don't always have the time to cook food at home. How can I stick to my vegan lifestyle without spending hours in the kitchen? Sad in Sharjah Dear Sad in Sharjah, You don’t have to be “friendly” to make friends. You do have to be available and visible to others. This means you can’t expect to work all the time and make the kind of friends you desire. If “friendly” is not natural to you, don’t force it. Be yourself. Being yourself will draw the right kind of friends to you. If you’re aloof, melancholy or quiet, others may still be drawn to you. These are not necessarily “magnetic” traits, but if opposites really are attracted to each other, then expect to meet people who are naturally friendly. First step, join groups related to your career or personal goals. The UAE has an extensive list of Meetup groups to enjoy, local cultural events, such as Internations, is a good example. Attend structured even G2F