Pushing Past the Plateau

OK, I have to be honest. The last week and a half or two weeks has been pretty hard. I feel really distanced from everyone. There has even been stiff, awkwardness in between Maria and Almudena and me. I don’t know if it’s because I was sick a week, and then out of town so we couldn’t hang out for awhile or what.

I also think another factor is that I’ve gotten complacent. I found a few people initially to get together with and then I stopped going to the bars and restaurants by myself to meet people. The weather started sucking and I didn’t go on as many walks. Now I just feel like I don’t know how to meet more people.

It’s depressing.

However, I believe everyone living abroad hits the same breaking point. Like the saying goes, that which doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. Early this afternoon I went to the post office and the bank. When I run these little errands I always hope I’ll run into someone I know, and that we can grab a coffee or something, but lately that hasn’t been happening. Almost all of the teachers are out of town for Christmas break, so that the number of people I know and can possibly run into is significantly lower than normal.
So, today, after my errands I took a short walk down El Paseo then headed solemnly back to my quiet apartment. I knew I was approaching my breaking point. If I don’t do something about this soon, I’ll be unhappy and alone for the next few months and I know I’m not ok with that. So my mind started turning…how could I possibly meet more friends?

My first plan of attack is to take at least one walk everyday, unless it’s raining.

Part two is actual duel-purpose. I plan on heading to Mezquita or another bar/restaurant every day to have a coffee and do finish some pages in my Spanish workbooks. Most of the time when I’m in my apartment I have things to do, and I get some of them done, but I’m easily distracted. I have several goals for my stay here, and several books I want to get through. Therefore, I’m leaving my apartment at least once a day to sit in another public location, with the possibility of running into people I know and still making progress on my other goals. I know that my acquaintances here frequently go to Mezquita during the day to have a coffee or other drink. What I don’t know is when. If I happen to be there when they are they always invite me to join them, I just never get a call or text to invite me to these gatherings ahead of time. I’m hoping that by camping out at Mezquita I’ll increase the number of times I run into them.

So that’s my plan for now. I generally think it will get better after Monday anyways, just because the teachers will be back in town, classes will be in session again, I’ll have to spend time lesson planning and my private lessons will start again. All of these increase my human contact time so I think I’ll be happier. I love vacation time, and the ability to just spend time relaxing, but 2 empty weeks here in Siles gives me way too much time alone.