The Meetup

[twissie]

I'm glad for the @beingtokyo event's diversity, gender mix, different backgrounds, ethnicities & reasons for being in Japan... pic.twitter.com/Kw4zmodFPT
- Fernando Gros (@fernandogros) September 29, 2016
I've been pretty active on twitter during my stay in Japan. I might have mentioned it here earlier, but for some reason twitter just makes a lot

Comments

[bergeronprocess]

I totally follow Being Tokyo now and I think it is because you tweeted at them or something? I don't know, but either way, it's a nice addition to my Being/I Am following collection. I've got Ireland, Germany, Sweden, Nigeria, Kenya, Malawi, a special one just for Indigenous people in Canada and Tokyo. I'm sure I miss a lot of those tweets because I'm in an American time zone, but what I do see is fun to see!

I feel like maybe the Being Tokyo meetup should've had a sign or something showing where they were! It's so awkward to go into a place and know you're looking for folks, not know how they look and try to find them. Even if it ends up being OK later, as it was in your case, it's a heck of a start hahaha.

Now I'm totally curious too--what irks you about the expat community? If you don't feel comfortable, you don't have to dish :)

[twissie]

I'm still trying to figure out my thoughts on the expat community here. There are many different kinds of expats, and my feelings shift depending on what sort of people I meet, so ... I.... don't..... know!!!! I promise I'll ramble out some thinky thoughts once I figure out what my thoughts actually are.

[deeplyunhip]

Glad the meetup went well and your bravery was rewarded with some good times. :D I understand the nerves! I did online dating back in the day and I was super nervous the first time but got the hang of it. Not sure if I would have gotten comfortable with meetups so fast - that's a lot of unfamiliar people all at once!

[mariediocre]

I've met a few (VERY) minor celebrities, NYTs authors, tv show actors, 80s/90s movie stars kinda groups. Every time I freeze up and just sort of stare and nod. I freak out about coming across as a fan and not treating them like a person, but I'm also too scared to speak because they're awesome and I admire them greatly and I don't want to sound dumb. So I opt to look dumb instead, LOL. I like your approach better!

[siberian_angel]

Glad I'm not alone, especially about the third sentence. ;)

[twissie]

Hahahahaha :D I'm honestly not sure what I'd do if I met a celebrity. I know that when bands I like have signing events, I shy away and opt to just look at them from a distance :S

[pineapple_sour]

Looks like a lot of fun!

I would be a complete spaz going, too.

[anko_kun]

Everything you described about walking past, going in and all that is me too xD. I'm not sure I've ever gone to a bar alone, unless I was meeting someone in there, I wouldn't go in otherwise.

Glad it all worked out in the end!!