What to do in a boring town

Abuja

We all know it's hard moving to new place, especially moving from a big bustling city to a developing town. I did. It's been a year and it hasn't been easy. I have been exposed as being shy and a little socially challenged. Making new friends is kind of hard especially if you are also working on not losing the ones back home. Finding things to do in a town that is less exciting than one you are used to is... well... challenging. In this developing town I live and work in, it’s so monotonous. It's all about gardens and night clubs. I am a literary person, I like wild nights spaced with quiet poetry recitals.

The transition to a slower pace can and did expose new sides of me; I have been the couch potato, the procrastinator and the burgeoning hermit. I then decided to get off my butt and do stuff. But not only my bad side came out; I became more entrepreneurial, independent, curious, more put together with thoughts and plans for the future. It has been a ride.

For you out there in this same situation don't lose hope, you just have a new opportunity to do something different.

Take the chance
to get started on something you really wanted to do. Become a pro at your hobby or pick up a new one. Take classes and take your hobby to the next level by monetizing it. For example: photography, garment construction (sewing), interior decoration, writing etc. Heck if you love fabrics you could source for some unique ones and sell to local designers even.

If you are the only different person in your clique, it’s time to break out and do what you love alone. I love museums for example but my friends all think it's a bore fest. I have been to it alone and it was fun having stimulating conversation with new people.

Try to learn a new dance. It doesn't get better than joining up with other people getting into the new dance craze. It could be salsa, krunk, or capoiera. This might be a generic tip but you could find it fun if you tried it. It would also be a nice conversation starter that you know an ancient Brazilian martial arts dance form.

Try learning a new language. It's never too late to become multilingual. And if you don't have any use for it now it will be useful in future I promise. It will broaden your business and travel destination selection.

Try a new sport. Sports is a great way to socialize and meet new people as long as you aren't a bad loser. Learning how to play a new sport will keep you preoccupied and also keep you fit.

Try hosting a movie night at your house, get a movie (buy a dvd, rent a dvd or just cable tv) and invite all your friends and acquaintances over. Depending on who you are you would love there being activity in your house.

Go to the cinemas alone if you really love movies. It’s not weird, lots of people do it. It's the movie watching experience of a giant screen, the surround sound, the popcorn, the fact that you can laugh in unison with strangers showing you didn't miss the joke.

Host a cook night or mixology night at your place. It's also about learning something new as well. Invite friends and you can all cook a new meal together with a recipe from a cookbook or off the internet. Or experiment with mixing new drinks, picking them at random and trying them out. So much more can be done with a themed learning evening.

Mark down all events and concerts on your calendar and coerce a friend to go with you. Concerts are fun but in my town they happen once in a while. So I eagerly and constantly check the blogsphere and online ticket sellers for the next exciting thing happening.

Take a tour of your town. Once most people move to a new place for anything other than a holiday they forget to do the tourist thing. I did. It would be awesome to take a weekend off to be a tourist and visit all the attractions your town has. You might gain a new appreciation for the town you now call home. And you could even pretend you actually are a tourist and see how people treat you.

Surf the restaurants in town if you haven't already done so. Having dinner every night in a different place is cool, at least on Instagram. With so much emphasis on documenting which interesting places you have been to online you could become a guru and people would flock to see your pictures and reviews.

There is still power in BYOB. Call everyone who knows anyone and meet up at a night spot for say karaoke. You get to expand your clique and have fun singing off tune too. As for making everyone aware that they get their own drinks, it's probably best to make that clear before they run off leaving the bill for you.

If you are really brave you could crash parties or weddings. Get in and mix with people. Its wrong I know but, one more smiling merry maker at a wedding is better than a drunken trouble maker.

The cowards way out is to jet back and forth from your home town. :) It’s allowed no condemnation here; if you can afford it, why not?

I hope this inspires someone.

Ciao! 

Bebe.