Settling In With Online Dating
- Friday, October 22 2010 @ 09:03 am
- Contributed by: Jet
- Views: 1,492
Moving to a new town or city can be difficult. Depending on how far you've moved, you might have to deal with a new climate, new culture, new food. You don't know many people, if any. And, worse yet, you have no clue where to even begin to meet new friends. Finding romance is just one problem in a string of many.
This is where online dating sites can be quite helpful. Not just to find potential romantic matches, although of course that is a primary function. No, using a dating site can help you scope out your new home – before you even get there.
One way is to do what I call a “friend search,” for members of both sexes. Even if your particular dating site is meant for romance, not friendship, don't worry about it – you won't have to email anyone. What you're doing is looking for people with common interests – not necessarily scoping for friends, but just people similar to you. Then check out their favorite places to go, their favorite activities. Is there an informal baseball team that everyone seems to belong to? A hot restaurant or club that everyone loves? You're learning already. You're figuring out what people in your age range, with your interests, like to do in your new city.
Next, update your profile with your new zip code. If you haven't moved yet, mention in the text that you're moving to your new location soon, and you're looking to meet new people. It might help to include a question, such as, “What restaurant should be first on my list to try?” People love giving advice and opinions. You might have a conversation going with a native before you even arrive! Just remember to update your profile when you actually arrive – it looks funny when you say you'll be moving “soon” for a year.
Don't be afraid to email people! You'll never meet anyone if you don't say hello, and this applies to the online world as well. Even if you don't make a romantic connection, you could still make a new friend – and in a new location, that can be just as valuable. Besides, as your social group expands, who knows who you might be introduced to?
A move to a new place can be daunting, but it doesn't have to be. Thinking outside the box and turning inward, to the internet, can reap rewards – both in friendship and romance.
This is where online dating sites can be quite helpful. Not just to find potential romantic matches, although of course that is a primary function. No, using a dating site can help you scope out your new home – before you even get there.
One way is to do what I call a “friend search,” for members of both sexes. Even if your particular dating site is meant for romance, not friendship, don't worry about it – you won't have to email anyone. What you're doing is looking for people with common interests – not necessarily scoping for friends, but just people similar to you. Then check out their favorite places to go, their favorite activities. Is there an informal baseball team that everyone seems to belong to? A hot restaurant or club that everyone loves? You're learning already. You're figuring out what people in your age range, with your interests, like to do in your new city.
Next, update your profile with your new zip code. If you haven't moved yet, mention in the text that you're moving to your new location soon, and you're looking to meet new people. It might help to include a question, such as, “What restaurant should be first on my list to try?” People love giving advice and opinions. You might have a conversation going with a native before you even arrive! Just remember to update your profile when you actually arrive – it looks funny when you say you'll be moving “soon” for a year.
Don't be afraid to email people! You'll never meet anyone if you don't say hello, and this applies to the online world as well. Even if you don't make a romantic connection, you could still make a new friend – and in a new location, that can be just as valuable. Besides, as your social group expands, who knows who you might be introduced to?
A move to a new place can be daunting, but it doesn't have to be. Thinking outside the box and turning inward, to the internet, can reap rewards – both in friendship and romance.
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