So, it’s not any big secret that it’s been hard for me and Ryan to meet new friends here in Altoona. We’ve made a few good friends through the English department, but that’s about it. There just don’t seem to be a lot of young people around, and even when we do see young people out at restaurants or in the grocery store, it’s not like you can just approach them and say, “Hi! We’re young too! Would you like to be friends?”
The truth is, we’ve always been in school—high school, college, grad school—and school provides a great environment for meeting new people and making friends, almost automatically. In grad school especially, we were surrounded by people who were just like us—studying the same things, living the same schedule, attending the same classes, going out at the same bars. It made making friends very easy. But (and I’m sure some of you can relate to this), this past year has taught me that making friends outside of school is a lot harder. The people in the English department are great, but a lot of them are a great deal older than us.
Because of this, imagine my excitement when Emily commented on my Enchanted Kitchen post a few days ago. She’d found me through their Facebook page, and explained that she and her husband were young foodies living in the central PA area as well! After e-mailing back and forth, we discovered that we only live about 15 minutes apart!
Emily works for WPSU, our area’s public radio station, where she maintains a blog about local food in central PA. I think I’m going to start contributing a few posts as well! She and her husband also have a personal blog about their culinary and brewing adventures.
I had a feeling that Emily and I would hit it off right away, and luckily, I was right! We had so much in common, from running, to foul-weather weddings, right down to the same trainer, Eric!
We met at Webster’s, a local cafe in State College, where I enjoyed this veggie wrap with a carrot curry spread. It was delicious!
After chatting it up for a little over an hour, Emily and I went our separate ways…or so we thought! Five minutes later, we both ended up together in Ann Taylor Loft, which only served as further proof that we’ll be great friends!
I picked up a few pairs of shorts for our trip…everything was 40% off, so obviously it would have been downright silly to not get anything. Surprisingly, Ryan failed to understand that logic.
I’m about to head out for a training session with Eric, and then we’re actually meeting up with more friends tonight. Our friends Casey and Rachel just returned from Austria, where she was studying on a Fulbright. Can’t wait to hear all about it!
See ya!
Michelle (Life, With Relish) said,
June 29, 2010 @ 7:33 pm
Glad you had a good afternoon! I happen to think your shopping reasoning is VERY logical!
Heather (Where's the Beach) said,
June 29, 2010 @ 8:44 pm
How fun meeting someone new that you seem to connect with right off. It gets harder and harder to meet people as we age doesn’t it? It’s like if you aren’t BFFs with coworkers, then who are you friends with??? Congrats on the ATL finds too!
Jessica @ How Sweet said,
June 29, 2010 @ 8:45 pm
That is so great! I am glad you have found someone close – and a blogger!
Katie said,
June 29, 2010 @ 9:09 pm
Woohoo! So nice to meet someone new… especially through food blogging! We’re kind of awesome people
Kelly said,
June 29, 2010 @ 9:46 pm
How funny!!! I am so glad you made a new bud!
Although I sercretly envious because I know we would be good friends if we lived closer! haha! 
Anna said,
June 29, 2010 @ 9:52 pm
I know, me too
Sent from my iPhone
Evan Thomas said,
June 29, 2010 @ 10:09 pm
I feel lucky that I’m in the Classics field, because it’s so ridiculously tiny we’re all forced to be friends. I was taking Greek as a senior in high school with a senior in college(who now is at Seminary) and we still keep in touch through facebook. And I’ve gotten to meet some grad students at Brown simply because I’m in their classes. And, as much as I hate to admit it, I think I’ve finally admitted that I will be living in a classroom my whole life
Anna said,
June 30, 2010 @ 2:27 am
Hey, nothing wrong with living in a classroom (says the English instructor)
lpskins said,
June 29, 2010 @ 10:18 pm
so glad you found a friend. god knows i understand how you feel. it feels great to meet someone you feel connected to! yay for girlfriends.
Elyssa said,
June 29, 2010 @ 10:30 pm
Jezebel totally just read your mind:
http://jezebel.com/5575476/how-to-make-friends-in-the-post+collegiate-world
Anna said,
June 30, 2010 @ 2:30 am
Ha! Good tips. Although I don’t want to dress in a pigeon costume any time soon. Outside of the bedroom, that is.
Elyssa said,
June 30, 2010 @ 3:18 am
Oh dear, I didn’t realize Ryan was partial to pigeons. Time to rethink the picnic lunch menu!
annecalista said,
June 29, 2010 @ 11:12 pm
Awesome
How was Pet Cemetary? I watched that with my brother when we were little, several times since we owned it. So creepy!
Anna said,
June 30, 2010 @ 2:28 am
It was simultaneously scary and goofy, but in a good way
Karla said,
June 29, 2010 @ 11:14 pm
Yay for new friends!!
Everything was 40% off at Ann Taylor Loft!?!?! Man, I wish I had one around here!
Ginger said,
June 29, 2010 @ 11:24 pm
So happy you made a new friend!! Sometimes, it just takes a year or so to become comfortable in a place and meet the people – I think that is happending for you now, and I’m thrilled! Did Katherine tell you about Ann Taylor Loft? If not, it’s pretty eerie that you both went shopping there and found so much stuff at 40% off – way to go!!
Anna said,
June 30, 2010 @ 2:28 am
Ha! I know, she left a message on my phone RIGHT after I left the store. Creepy.
kilax said,
June 29, 2010 @ 11:25 pm
I am so happy you and Emily hit it off! I agree that it is really hard to make friends outside of college… I am so excited about the one blogger friend that lives close that I see all the time too!
homecookedem said,
June 29, 2010 @ 11:28 pm
Awww, what a sweet story of how you met your new friend!! And how could you not make friends with someone with as great a name as Emily?!!
hehe! 
I love Ann Taylor Loft too!! And that wrap sounds wonderful, yum!! 
Morgan said,
June 29, 2010 @ 11:34 pm
I hear ya on it being hard to meet people after college and grad school! It’s rough. That’s actually a lot of the reason we are moving, it’s been really lonely here! I’m glad you found someone with similar interests!
Sarena (The Non Dairy Queen) said,
June 29, 2010 @ 11:35 pm
That is awesome that you met someone so close like that…especially someone with similar interests! My husband and I have always been the odd ones out. We went to art school which was not like a regular school and we got married young and had kids young. Our friends now are just now having kids and getting married (not in that order). I am really happy for you!
Abby said,
June 29, 2010 @ 11:37 pm
Awww more central PA Food bloggers?!! I should move back!!! Good ol’ Central PA. Gotta admit that I miss it sometimes!
Anna said,
June 30, 2010 @ 2:30 am
You should move back!!
Erin said,
June 30, 2010 @ 12:44 am
That’s great you were able to meet someone new! It’s definitely hard to meet people, especially in a new city. I’m having trouble though because I want to make new friends, but I barely have enough time to hang out with the friends I have. It’s a paradox!
land animal said,
June 30, 2010 @ 1:00 am
Way cool! I love Enchanted Kitchen!
Anna said,
June 30, 2010 @ 2:24 am
Are you in State College too?!?
Gabriela @ Une Vie Saine said,
June 30, 2010 @ 1:04 am
Glad you made a new friend! Going to school in NYC, I can definitely relate to this- there are people to be friends with, but NYU doesn’t have a strong sense of community and it’s hard to just strike up a conversation!
Sorry I’ve been a bit behind on post- I just read all of them from the past few days, and that spicy tofu looks amazing! Hope you’re having a great week so far.
R @ learning.as.i.chop said,
June 30, 2010 @ 1:19 am
I’ve been enjoying 40% off at the Loft as well. Of course you must buy something. I’m really liking their clothes lately
greensandjeans said,
June 30, 2010 @ 1:49 am
Oh yay! It is SO hard to make friends after college. I moved to Arizona for work and while I have somehow endedup with a wonderful boyfriend I have only made a few friends
Christine (The Raw Project) said,
June 30, 2010 @ 2:50 am
Yay, cute story! And I’ve got to check out Loft for some deals this week! I know what you mean about making friends, it’s not easy in my job either.
Emily said,
June 30, 2010 @ 3:16 am
Hooray for new friends! I’m so happy our cyber paths crossed. Enjoy those new ATL shorts on the beach, and I look forward to seeing you soon back in central PA!
actorsdiet said,
June 30, 2010 @ 5:28 am
glad you made a new friend – and shopping buddy too!
Joanna Sutter said,
June 30, 2010 @ 12:03 pm
I love it! If I lived closer we’d be bff’s.
Lindsay said,
June 30, 2010 @ 12:12 pm
Making friends as we get older is so much harder! I’m glad you found a new one!!!!
agirlandhermutt said,
June 30, 2010 @ 1:40 pm
Yay for new friends! I’ve mastered the art of approaching strangers to find friends. Its so hard! You just want to hang a sign around your neck that says “Need a friend? Apply here!”
Jen said,
June 30, 2010 @ 2:00 pm
Yay for friends!!!! I miss the Loft, no sense buying things there now when I stay home all day with 3 kids. Blah.
Jen
http://jenslosinit.blogspot.com/
Kenzie (Healthy Purpose) said,
June 30, 2010 @ 2:28 pm
i’ve always been nervous about how making friends gets more difficult after school. Good for you! yay friends that blog too!
thehungryscholar said,
June 30, 2010 @ 2:28 pm
Yay for new friends! She sounds like the perfect find!
Heather @ Side of Sneakers said,
June 30, 2010 @ 2:42 pm
YAY for friends!!! I think this is such a hard age to make friends- not young college kids anymore, but not full-blown “adults”. So excited for you!
Stacey said,
June 30, 2010 @ 3:47 pm
So glad you made a new friend! I agree with others who say it can be difficult when you are an adult so you should be pleased you have found someone who you connect with straight away.
Lauren (Clean Eats in the Dirty South) said,
June 30, 2010 @ 4:31 pm
new friends are always a plus!
that wrap looks uber tasty.
nutritious Foodie said,
June 30, 2010 @ 6:25 pm
Yay for a new friend. Even though we live in the HUGE city of Houston, we have sort of the same problem.
It sounds like I need to go to Ann Taylor Loft… I need some shorts.
The Culinary Couple » Vegetarian Dinner: Orzo with Roasted Eggplant and Cinnamon-Cumin Dressing said,
July 30, 2010 @ 6:52 pm
[...] I met a few weeks ago through our connection to a new State College café, The Enchanted Kitchen. We met for lunch and hit it off immediately. And then we both went on vacation. We were finally able to reconnect last night over dinner at our [...]