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I am out of the country right now as we are launching Feast of Friends, to care for my 94 year old grandmother (how amazing is that – 94?)

As I am planning on all the things that we can do to make friends easier for the users of Feast of Friends and hearing exciting feedback from those who are exploring the site, I have to admit I am feeling the need for my own Feast of Friends away from home.

But I am in a country that Feast of Friends doesn't serve, so I decided to go to a local club for people like me away from their home country. There, I decide, I will meet friends just like me and we will laugh and giggle and make lunch plans and life away from home won't be so lonely.

Even though I don't normally like to walk into a big group of people alone – it can be intimidating, I took a deep breath and walked in.I envisioned being greeted with expressions of excitement that I had arrived and they were all thrilled I was there. I fantasized that someone would walk over to me and say “Hi, My name is Jill. I see you are new here, let me introduce you to people” I really, really hoped my fantasies would come true.

Instead I was met with what we are all afraid of, a group of strangers sitting quietly at their own tables, no one making eye contact or smiling. I wanted to run but I had just paid my admission fee so I was determined to get what I came for.

I found a face I knew and latched on but it was clear they wanted to meet other people. I turned to the person behind me and introduced myself. A kind man, joined me at my table and told me that he didnt like to mingle either and preferred to find one person and just talk to them. As wonderful as the conversation was and I did enjoy it, this was the not the group of friends I had hoped to meet.

So that brings me back to Feast of Friends, one of the things that I love about this site is that when you join a group or an activity, you have the chance to talk to others who are apart of the same thing on our forum, before you go in person. Hopefully you would have exchanged pictures or descriptions of each other. Maybe the organizer of the event has created some fun thing to identify you all as Feast of Friends members. Maybe you meet and go in together to the event with someone you chatted with on the forum.

Either way, I hope that everyone will be welcoming and warm because you are all there for the same reason. I want to ask a favour of you. When you attend an event and you see a “Kathy” walk in, alone, searching and seeking and wishing someone would talk to them, please go and introduce yourself. After all, we are all a Feast of Friends here.