How to meet my neighbourS?

[maiato]

Well i think this just a thread that almost of us once or other think when pass by with our neighbours. I just moved from another country and living in the building with about 30 flats. So is always coming in and out someone. The first time u see i can easily say "hello" or "goodmorning" something easy...but i dont want to do this all the time. I want to meet some of them or at least make some 1min converstation....any sugestions?

 

[WeirdyMcGee]

...knock on doors and ask to borrow a cup of sugar?
Ahaha~
baking is always a nice gift. If you felt like baking something or cooking and going to a few doors to offer it out- they may feel obliged to return the favor some day and there you go.

I live in too dangerous of a neighborhood to be socializing with my neighbors.
When I lived in the city, I was always too busy to try but it would be nice to get to know them and I guess the simplest way is to offer a small gift of some sort and start a conversation. It can be about the building itself, where you came from, what you do, your family, etc.

 

[maiato]

...knock on doors and ask to borrow a cup of sugar?
Ahaha~
baking is always a nice gift. If you felt like baking something or cooking and going to a few doors to offer it out- they may feel obliged to return the favor some day and there you go.

I live in too dangerous of a neighborhood to be socializing with my neighbors.
When I lived in the city, I was always too busy to try but it would be nice to get to know them and I guess the simplest way is to offer a small gift of some sort and start a conversation. It can be about the building itself, where you came from, what you do, your family, etc.

Well it sounds a good a idea, baking...but i'm not the greates cook! And for me it would be a great step. Just knock and leave a gift! I was talking more about natural situations when u just find your neighbours near home or at the door...engage the converstation, the gift would be great but i would have same problem after : ( any more ideas?

 

[WeirdyMcGee]

Well... you want natural situations but you don't want to have to talk to them all the time?

I'm not so sure about that...
I think the best way is to just initiate conversations any time you see anyone-- not to the point where you're annoying but telling a joke and being friendly is always a good thing.
I'm not so sure on exact things to say because it would depend on the location and who you were talking to... so you may want to just practice situations in your head and tell yourself not to hold back once you're out there- face to face with someone.

 

[Acegame]

You said that you just moved into the building, so why don't you just introduce yourself to the neighbours if you run into them. Just say something like "Hi, i just moved into the building and it seems we are neighbours. My name is ....., nice to meet you.....". Then he or she will introduce her/him self and then you have a conversation. Try to think of some questions to ask how you get to know them better, or what you can tell about yourself. For example ask how long they live there or what they do for a living. And you can tell them you're from another country. That is actually nice for the conversation because that makes you interesting and will raise more questions. And maybe if you like the person ask him/her to come over for a drink sometime and if you don't you can just keep saying hi/bye next time you run into that person. I think this is very casual and normal. You shouldn't be scared that its weird to introduce yourself or trying to make a conversation with your neighbour.

I have actually done this as a CBT assignment not so long ago. My situation was a little trickier because i allready live here for 7 years and never had the courage to talk to some neighbours. So at some point i just introduced myself and shook their hands and before i knew it we had a nice conversation going. They actually seemed to appreciate that i did. And now when i run into them it's allot less akward than before and we even have a little chat from time to time, but not necessarily.