I Made a Friend!
So, it’s not any big secret that it’s been hard for me and Ryan to meet new friends here in Altoona. We’ve made a few good friends through the English department, but that’s about it. There just don’t seem to be a lot of young people around, and even when we do see young people out at restaurants or in the grocery store, it’s not like you can just approach them and say, “Hi! We’re young too! Would you like to be friends?”
The truth is, we’ve always been in school—high school, college, grad school—and school provides a great environment for meeting new people and making friends, almost automatically. In grad school especially, we were surrounded by people who were just like us—studying the same things, living the same schedule, attending the same classes, going out at the same bars. It made making friends very easy. But (and I’m sure some of you can relate to this), this past year has taught me that making friends outside of school is a lot harder. The people in the English department are great, but a lot of them are a great deal older than us.
Because of this, imagine my excitement when Emily commented on my Enchanted Kitchen post a few days ago. She’d found me through their Facebook page, and explained that she and her husband were young foodies living in the central PA area as well! After e-mailing back and forth, we discovered that we only live about 15 minutes apart!
Emily works for WPSU, our area’s public radio station, where she maintains a blog about local food in central PA. I think I’m going to start contributing a few posts as well! She and her husband also have a personal blog about their culinary and brewing adventures.
I had a feeling that Emily and I would hit it off right away, and luckily, I was right! We had so much in common, from running, to foul-weather weddings, right down to the same trainer, Eric!
We met at Webster’s, a local cafe in State College, where I enjoyed this veggie wrap with a carrot curry spread. It was delicious!
After chatting it up for a little over an hour, Emily and I went our separate ways…or so we thought! Five minutes later, we both ended up together in Ann Taylor Loft, which only served as further proof that we’ll be great friends!
I picked up a few pairs of shorts for our trip…everything was 40% off, so obviously it would have been downright silly to not get anything. Surprisingly, Ryan failed to understand that logic.
I’m about to head out for a training session with Eric, and then we’re actually meeting up with more friends tonight. Our friends Casey and Rachel just returned from Austria, where she was studying on a Fulbright. Can’t wait to hear all about it!
See ya!
Glad you had a good afternoon! I happen to think your shopping reasoning is VERY logical!
How fun meeting someone new that you seem to connect with right off. It gets harder and harder to meet people as we age doesn’t it? It’s like if you aren’t BFFs with coworkers, then who are you friends with??? Congrats on the ATL finds too!
That is so great! I am glad you have found someone close – and a blogger!
Woohoo! So nice to meet someone new… especially through food blogging! We’re kind of awesome people
How funny!!! I am so glad you made a new bud!
Although I sercretly envious because I know we would be good friends if we lived closer! haha! 
I know, me too
Sent from my iPhone
I feel lucky that I’m in the Classics field, because it’s so ridiculously tiny we’re all forced to be friends. I was taking Greek as a senior in high school with a senior in college(who now is at Seminary) and we still keep in touch through facebook. And I’ve gotten to meet some grad students at Brown simply because I’m in their classes. And, as much as I hate to admit it, I think I’ve finally admitted that I will be living in a classroom my whole life
Hey, nothing wrong with living in a classroom (says the English instructor)
so glad you found a friend. god knows i understand how you feel. it feels great to meet someone you feel connected to! yay for girlfriends.
Jezebel totally just read your mind:
http://jezebel.com/5575476/how-to-make-friends-in-the-post+collegiate-world
Ha! Good tips. Although I don’t want to dress in a pigeon costume any time soon. Outside of the bedroom, that is.
Oh dear, I didn’t realize Ryan was partial to pigeons. Time to rethink the picnic lunch menu!
Awesome
How was Pet Cemetary? I watched that with my brother when we were little, several times since we owned it. So creepy!
It was simultaneously scary and goofy, but in a good way
Yay for new friends!!
Everything was 40% off at Ann Taylor Loft!?!?! Man, I wish I had one around here!
So happy you made a new friend!! Sometimes, it just takes a year or so to become comfortable in a place and meet the people – I think that is happending for you now, and I’m thrilled! Did Katherine tell you about Ann Taylor Loft? If not, it’s pretty eerie that you both went shopping there and found so much stuff at 40% off – way to go!!
Ha! I know, she left a message on my phone RIGHT after I left the store. Creepy.
I am so happy you and Emily hit it off! I agree that it is really hard to make friends outside of college… I am so excited about the one blogger friend that lives close that I see all the time too!
Awww, what a sweet story of how you met your new friend!! And how could you not make friends with someone with as great a name as Emily?!!
hehe! 
I love Ann Taylor Loft too!! And that wrap sounds wonderful, yum!! 
I hear ya on it being hard to meet people after college and grad school! It’s rough. That’s actually a lot of the reason we are moving, it’s been really lonely here! I’m glad you found someone with similar interests!
That is awesome that you met someone so close like that…especially someone with similar interests! My husband and I have always been the odd ones out. We went to art school which was not like a regular school and we got married young and had kids young. Our friends now are just now having kids and getting married (not in that order). I am really happy for you!
Awww more central PA Food bloggers?!! I should move back!!! Good ol’ Central PA. Gotta admit that I miss it sometimes!
You should move back!!
That’s great you were able to meet someone new! It’s definitely hard to meet people, especially in a new city. I’m having trouble though because I want to make new friends, but I barely have enough time to hang out with the friends I have. It’s a paradox!
Way cool! I love Enchanted Kitchen!
Are you in State College too?!?
Glad you made a new friend! Going to school in NYC, I can definitely relate to this- there are people to be friends with, but NYU doesn’t have a strong sense of community and it’s hard to just strike up a conversation!
Sorry I’ve been a bit behind on post- I just read all of them from the past few days, and that spicy tofu looks amazing! Hope you’re having a great week so far.
I’ve been enjoying 40% off at the Loft as well. Of course you must buy something. I’m really liking their clothes lately
Oh yay! It is SO hard to make friends after college. I moved to Arizona for work and while I have somehow endedup with a wonderful boyfriend I have only made a few friends
Yay, cute story! And I’ve got to check out Loft for some deals this week! I know what you mean about making friends, it’s not easy in my job either.
Hooray for new friends! I’m so happy our cyber paths crossed. Enjoy those new ATL shorts on the beach, and I look forward to seeing you soon back in central PA!
glad you made a new friend – and shopping buddy too!
I love it! If I lived closer we’d be bff’s.
Making friends as we get older is so much harder! I’m glad you found a new one!!!!
Yay for new friends! I’ve mastered the art of approaching strangers to find friends. Its so hard! You just want to hang a sign around your neck that says “Need a friend? Apply here!”
Yay for friends!!!! I miss the Loft, no sense buying things there now when I stay home all day with 3 kids. Blah.
Jen
http://jenslosinit.blogspot.com/
i’ve always been nervous about how making friends gets more difficult after school. Good for you! yay friends that blog too!
Yay for new friends! She sounds like the perfect find!
YAY for friends!!! I think this is such a hard age to make friends- not young college kids anymore, but not full-blown “adults”. So excited for you!
So glad you made a new friend! I agree with others who say it can be difficult when you are an adult so you should be pleased you have found someone who you connect with straight away.
new friends are always a plus!
that wrap looks uber tasty.
Yay for a new friend. Even though we live in the HUGE city of Houston, we have sort of the same problem.
It sounds like I need to go to Ann Taylor Loft… I need some shorts.