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Occupying Your Freetime on a Business Trip?
Eric asks: "I just learned that my employer is sending me on a project abroad, in a medium size city for 3 months, starting early August. This will be a 12-hour flight from home and I have friends just an 8-hour drive from there. This is not the first time I am being sent on a remote location, but it used to be short trips (one week, typically), so I didn't have time to get really bored. What do you do while on a long business trip? how do you meet people when you cannot use your network of friends and don't have months to waste on building a new network?"
"Getting to know people from the opposite sex would be nice, but I'm also looking for chaps to simply share a beer with. I'm your average geek, with normal social skills, but it usually takes me a long time (around 3 to 6 months) to make friends in a new area. Hobbies that do not need to be pursued thoroughly are good too.
Here are a few things that I've thought about:
- join a sport club, though the sports I'm into (swimming, rollerblades, hockey on rollerblades) aren't the best for meeting people or aren't practiced everywhere
- lurk in clubs and bars, but going there by yourself spawn images of sorrow drowning in my mind
- take dancing lessons; a good way to meet girls, and it doesn't usually require to get a yearly membership
- learn a new skill; I've registered on a distance Spanish course some time ago; not very successful so far (mostly due to laziness)
- the geeky way: join an open-source project, though I'm not sure if I'll have a proper internet connection at the hotel
I was working in Africa last summer and found that for me the best way to meet people was by joining the local Hash House Harriers. I won't get into too much detail, but it basically bills itself as "a drinking club with a running problem." The runs were typically on farms and in the woods just outside of the city where I was staying and the landscapes were beautiful. Plus, the runnning was good and the beer was insanely cheap. :-)
You didn't really give any details about where you're going, but if it's anywhere internationally, chances are there's a local HHH. It's got a lot to do with the whole ex-patriot community.
-Gameboy, Lusaka HHH
Most large cities have a thriving internet-based escort industry. Most small cities have a relaxed attitude about 'massage parlors'. So long as you stay away from the street talent, and visit with well-reviewed ladies the risk of you getting busted is virtually nil.
If you're in town for three months, you're looking for 'no strings'. No one wants fewer strings than your friendly sex worker.
Plus, it's legal in Canada and most of Nevada.
If you're freaked out about diseases, get thee to a massage parlor. Usually you can a massage and a handshake for less than $100. Cheaper and quicker than dinner and a movie.
If you're not interested in 'for pay', then you check out the BDSM scene, Adultfriendfinder (for MILFs), or the singles ads in the local alternative paper.
If you're not interested in recreational dating, then I suggest you check out the local music scene. Either way, you shouldn't be bored.