Ya know what sucks about living where I do?

[awkwardamanda]

Socials. Something we do in Manitoba. We have "socials" which are fundraisers, often for weddings or sometimes for other purposes. Basically, you rent a big hall, hire a DJ, sell tickets to whoever wants to go, serve food and drinks, raffle off prizes, and just have a big party. (In case anyone is wondering: Manitoba Socials Guide - What is a Manitoba Social?) I hate them. I had to go to one a few days ago because my cousin is getting married in the summer. It sucked. I went there with my family and we got a table with some relatives. I just sat there like a log all night, feeling awkward. There were slow dances for the bride and groom and then for the whole wedding party, so my aunt (bride's mom) gave me her camera and asked me to take pictures. So I stood up but stayed near the edge of the dance floor taking pictures, but then my aunt came over and said I had to get closer. So she took the camera, moved in closer and took a few pictures while I stood behind her feeling stupid. Then she gave me the camera back and I continued taking pictures, still feeling stupid. Once that was over I sat back down but then my mom went to go help serve food so I was just sitting there with some relatives, but pretty much feeling out of place. People move around and, ya know, socialize, so my dad and my brother took off and ended up sitting with other relatives I had no interest in talking to anyway. I mostly just sat there, staring around the room, trying not to make eye contact so nobody would talk to me for very long. Most people kinda make their way around to chat with or at least say hi to anybody they know. I don't go out of my way to. I'll say hi if I happen to pass somebody I know, but I had plenty of relatives that I didn't bother to even greet. Sometimes I deliberately looked away from people so I wouldn't have to talk to them. It's not that I hate them either. I just don't care to talk to them. I probably just come off as unfriendly but oh well.::

 

[Scrabbl]

I'm from Winnipeg.

I didn't know socials is a local thing. They must have similar things elsewhere in the world, right? I didn't even know what a "social" is exactly. I know now.. lol. interesting.

But keep in mind you don't have to talk to everyone. There's no obligation to imitate what people are doing.. you don't have to do anything you don't feel like. There's no pressure. it'll be ok

 

[awkwardamanda]

Apparently it's just a Manitoba thing. I was kinda surprised when I found that out.

 

[kyle]

Yes, I lived in Alberta for 3 1/2 years and only the ex-Manitobans knew what "socials" were....

 

[gmilne]

hahaha socials all my relatives are from manitoba and talk about them, I think I went to a few when I was younger..

 

[BlueDays]

It's really interesting reading the many meanings for the same word in different parts of the world!
Where I live a "social" is the equivalent to what the Americans call their senior year Prom.

 

[awkwardamanda]

Where I live a "social" is the equivalent to what the Americans call their senior year Prom.

And in Canada, we just refer to that as "grad" (graduation).

 

[Sial Axetder]

.... I probably just come off as unfriendly but oh well.::

I appear unfriendly, maybe why no one asks anything of me.
I was not aware of what socials meant in Manitoba until now. Being in Ontario, I should? Maybe?

Last wedding ceremony - thing - I was at, same way. No talk. Told I was more like the man in black.

 

[agoraphobickatie]

you know what sucks about living where i do? ...if we had mass "socials", people would end up bringing guns, fighting, stealing, getting shot, etc etc... bunch of no good thugs around here

 

[UnOccupied]

You have been through that event many times, and you SURVIVED. I am sure you will go to several more of them, and continue to survive again and again, only to realize that in a few years, you will be looking back saying, "you know, despite the intense anxious feelings i had before, during, and after each of these events, i managed to make it out alive. I wish i could have had some fun at them, instead of dreading them, since dread and worry leads to nothing but more dread and more feeling worse about everything."

What can you do to turn your anxiety around? All the answers are inside of you, you must slow down, take control of your mind, and figure out what YOUR body wants YOU to do.

 

[hoddesdon]

you know what sucks about living where i do? ...if we had mass "socials", people would end up bringing guns, fighting, stealing, getting shot, etc etc... bunch of no good thugs around here

Maybe you should move to Manitoba.

 

[emerald_star733]

And in Canada, we just refer to that as "grad" (graduation).

We called ours the "at home".... which i never understood. why not call it prom?! lol... maybe it was just my lil town thing in Ontario.

 

[planemo]

you know what sucks about living where i do? ...if we had mass "socials", people would end up bringing guns, fighting, stealing, getting shot, etc etc... bunch of no good thugs around here

Sounds a lot like my place of residence.

 

[A l a n]

And in Canada, we just refer to that as "grad" (graduation).

That's interesting. Where I'm from, prom and grad were entirely different things.

 

[awkwardamanda]

That's interesting. Where I'm from, prom and grad were entirely different things.

Well, we had our grad night, which was a dinner and dance, and then a separate commencement ceremony where we actually got our diplomas.

 

[1986Poe]

what sucks about living where i do is...that its blue and green and rotates everyday, lol