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Perhaps you should join SERVAS.
http://usservas.org/about.html As their site states: "Servas is a worldwide cooperative cultural exchange network established in 1948 and composed of member hosts and travelers working together to foster peace, goodwill and mutual respect. Servas seeks to realize these aims by providing opportunities for person-to-person contacts between people of diverse cultures and backgrounds. Our mission includes providing approved US and international travelers with opportunities to be guests of Servas member hosts around the world." If you don't need to actually stay with someone, I know some hosts just like to meet for coffee and a chat or to spend the afternoon showing you around. |
I take solo trips fairly often, and sometimes I do crave for "real conversation". But it's never a problem for me in London since everyone speaks English. I have no trouble starting a conversation with strangers - could be on a walking tour with London Walks, or could be in a theatre with my neighbor, or could be with fellow diners in the next table, or could be the person in line in front of me at the TKTS...
It's a bit more difficult when I'm traveling in a country where I don't speak the language and the locals don't speak English much. I was craving for English conversation last year when I went to Spain for 12 days by myself. Again, it's never an issue for me in UK. And in the line of your Colin Firth story, I've posted this a million times now on Fodors, but 2 years ago in London, I shared a table with a Hollywood star and we chatted for an hour over dinner. [Sadly, he didn't invite me back to his hotel room for a night cap. :(] |
don't be a tease, yk.... who was he?!
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thanks Nikki!
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plan to learn something British while there: a language course is not appropriate but you can take something at one of the museums, theaters, garden clubs, antiques etc. you will become part of the town very quickly.
i moved to sorrento italy for 3 months just over a year ago on a sabattical. i wanted to test if i could live alone in a foreign country. i enrolled in a language school that changed everything. i met all NON americans, some from around the world, had a focus to my trip etc they offered cooking, art classes, history etc in addition to a language. i may never leave italy but if i travel elsewhere i will go with a purpose. there is a WONDERFUL group of walkers who spend 2,3 or longer in historic guest houses and go out on walks, come back for meals. my plan was always to take the Cotswolds Way, town to town, but now it will be the tuscan way. what about a week of theater at 1/3 the price of NYC? check www.Journeywoman.com for their list of mentors by country. you could meet up with someone in the group during your stay. and as others have suggested, rent an apt or do a house swap even try sabtical.com. most of their offers are for longer periods, but you may get lucky www.hometoitaly.com |
great info above..... I so agree about theater at 1/3 the cost!!! My ritual everyday was to go to the half price ticket booth after breakfast and see what was available, make my selection and purchase ticket and then do the rest of my day with my evening entertainment lined up. I saw Jersey boys for 20 pounds!!! It was fantastic.
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