americanaamelie

Thank you all for the responses. Just knowing I'm not alone in feeling this way is helpful in itself! I think I'll have to get over my prejudices about online dating and give it a try..What can it hurt. And I really like bsharpe269's advice about attending events specifically for graduate students (didn't do any of that last year) and not automatically closing myself off to these people. lunarem--I'd rather not give the university's name in this post but it's in Alabama-- church, football, and country music mania ...seriously, you can't get away from the country music. It's good that you have visited the university and are at least prepared for what will be meeting you in the Fall; that's more than what I did. You also have time to scope out and research some student or community organizations before arriving. I wish you the best!

Sure, I'm 24 years old, and I lived in New Mexico until this past year when I moved for grad school; I was born and raised in Sante Fe and attended college in Albuquerque. I come from a white middle class family, and my parents would be considered liberal and not very religious (as am I). I've been active in progressive movements such as reproductive rights, health care reform, etc. Though I think I'm aware of why I'm not clicking with my current community; my issue, I guess, is how to find my own niche and meet and develop relationships with others within this very different community.

Hello all, This topic has to do with adjusting socially and culturally to a new environment, which was something I didn't put as much thought into when preparing for graduate study as I probably should have! I was just thrilled to have been accepted with full funding to the program of my choice. But one of the more difficult parts of my first year of grad study has been dealing with unexpected culture shock and finding others to relate to in a part of the country whose people's views and lifestyles differ sharply from mine. I attend a university in the South- in a rural Southern college town to be exact. Being a liberal-leaning, single woman who doesn't particpate in organized religion, I've definitely felt like the odd one out at times in my department and the larger community (which is verryy Baptist/evangelical). It took until the end of my second semester to get close to a few people, and I'm very grateful to have them in my life, but many of them are married and wrapped up in their marriages, as are many of my fellow graduate students in general. If they're not married, they're either engaged or in serious relationships, which has been...disappointing. I'm not ashamed to admit that I would love to meet someone; I know I'm in graduate school, and my academic work is my priority, but this girl wants some companionship and love, too . Single men seem to be an endangered species around here; finding them, and friends in general, is another problem in itself, considering that graduate study doesn't allow much time to participate in extra-curriculars and hobby groups where I would be able to meet more like-minded people. So what I am seeking with this post is, first, any general advice about adjusting to living in a new part of the country, advice about how to balance school and assitantship duties with nurturing an extracurricular/social life, and any advice regarding dating in graduate school. I know, I'm asking a lot, but anything you have to offer would be much appreciated.