It is now the end of my third week here in Tenerife and I finally have a girlfriend to do things with! And not for lack of not trying, because I was trying!
The first week I stayed with the family most of the time because it was so new and I didn't know anything about the island. But the second week I joined Cross-fit, started my Spanish classes and started to go out on my own. The first night I went out on my own I went to this little bar down the street called "Cervecerta Leffe". I sat alone at a table outside where everyone else was sitting, drank a very tall beer called an "Erdinger" that the waitress recommended, and people watched. I smiled at anyone who would look my way and hoped that I seemed approachable. They brought out a little dish of potato chips for a table snack, and had music videos playing on a TV they had moved outside but you couldn't hear it at all. So I sat. Sipping my Erdinger, munching on potato chips, and shifting my weight from side to side in the attempt to find a comfortable position that gave off a friendly body language vibe. At one point I got out my note pad and started to write:
"Traveling alone is either going to be the experience that brings me out of my shell, or... traveling alone will just confirm that I have a case of Social Anxiety. Sitting alone at a bar drinking a beer without a phone to even pretend to have something exciting to look at...I'm afraid of the outcome. But, at least I'm out. Alone. In Spain. On a beautiful island. People are jealous that I am free and able to travel, but I am jealous of their security and families".I remember smiling to myself as I wrote the part about being on a beautiful island, even though I was feeling a little defeated inside. But instead of surrendering to the feeling, I finished my beer, stood up, walked into the bar, and started asking everyone in there if they spoke any English, and eventually I met someone who did, and I ended up hanging out with him and his friends the rest of the night and had a great time. I overcame the defeat. I overcame the social anxiety I was feeling. I was able to prove to myself that I do have what it takes to travel and make friends like everyone else! And since then I have gone to several other places all alone and have been able to make friends with people and enjoy their company, and earlier this week I became friends with a fellow Au Pair in my Spanish class who is from Denmark, Emilie. She is now the little sister I never had and we have lots of plans to do things together. Today we went to the Beach for both of our first times and it was so much fun. This weekend we are planning on going to the South of the island for the day to see what kind of people we can meet...and best of all - She was having the same troubles for making friends as I was, and now we have eachother.
Truth be told - The language difference hasn't been helping, but now Emilie and I can conquer it together and make some local friends while we're at it.
Cheers!
