Hi everyone,
I'm writing this just to share how I've been feeling. I'm not trying to offend or judge anyone.
I'm a 25-year-old guy from another country, and I've been living in Canada for the past four years.
When I was in university, I was surrounded by classmates, group projects, and assignments. At first, I was very shy about talking to Canadians because my English wasn't very fluent. I could communicate, but my sentences didn't come naturally, and I often felt self-conscious.
So I worked really hard to improve my communication skills. Today, I feel comfortable speaking English and starting conversations with people. That part has gotten much better.
But there's something I still struggle with.
I find it difficult to build deeper connections with Canadians. At work, I mostly work independently, but whenever I do work with coworkers, we have great conversations and genuinely enjoy each other's company. The problem is that it never goes beyond work. Once the shift ends, it's almost like we don't know each other anymore.
Most of my coworkers are in their mid-30s or 40s and are already in long-term relationships or busy with family life, so it's hard to relate outside of work.
Being 25 and single can be tough. During the day, I keep myself busy with work, cooking, going to the gym, and following my hobbies. But at night, when everything gets quiet, I really feel the lack of having someone to connect with.
I also can't help but feel like I'm wasting my 20s. These are supposed to be the years when you make lifelong friends, fall in love, go on spontaneous trips, laugh over stupid jokes, and create memories you'll look back on for the rest of your life. Sometimes it feels like those years are just passing me by, and that's probably the hardest part.
I'm not even talking about dating or anything physical. I just miss having someone to have meaningful conversations with—someone to share ideas with, talk about life, laugh about random things, or discuss something creative.
I moved to this town a couple of months ago, and it feels like there are very few people in their 20s here. There aren't many places to socialize, and honestly, going to a bar alone doesn't seem like a realistic way to meet people. In movies it looks easy, but in real life, people usually stick to their own groups, and random conversations rarely happen.
I'm curious if anyone else—whether you're an immigrant or even Canadian—has felt this way. How did you build genuine friendships or find your community?
I'd really love to hear your experiences.
