New challenges & environment

Well it has been a while since my last story of my life. Past few months it has been busy. I have been through transitioning from a regional area to a major city for my postgraduate degree and industry experience. I never lived in a city, ever experience 'busy' lifestyle and determine how capable I am to blend into new environment.

So this what I got to face the new challenges and environment. First university degree up in Townsville and my living experiences over in the US has brought me experiences of what 'life' is all about. The key challenges I am facing today, especially in Brisbane at a world's most reknown university, University of Queensland - are culture, commuting, higher degree and research skills and balancing life. One of these parameters I have already experienced; such as culture from the US by meeting new people and making relationships with different backgrounds. Since the fact I never lived in a city before, it drives me to develop further experience in a new environment which I am expecting meeting a lot of new friends especially with similar interests.

When I was studying Environmental Science at JCU, I was struggling to find ways to help my confidence in making new friends. In a common sense nature, Aspies usually struggle find friends and relationships with people who have similar interests as you or no matter. Unfortunately I haven't made a single friend from either classes and student clubs. So this what made me to think of why this is happening; thus difference in lifestyles between a regional and city universities.

At UQ, I find it so easy to get along with people are from my classes and student clubs as well as professional groups who have similar interests and passion as me. During the first two weeks of classes, it was a culture shock because it was overwhelming. I have used my confidence, generous attitudes and friendly approaches for whole time. I believed it is working this time around. It was very different when that the world used to be 'against' me; I was curious why I was rejected by so many people.

So the challenges I am facing now is social anxiety and developing relationships. Aspies are prone to this, even if their social and working life is active. I still feel anxious of what is happening in the environment between myself and other friends, this also applies in classes. At JCU I had a lot of bad reactions from people that I am feeling uncomfortable with the environment, but today their approaches are opposite. People tend to become easy to comfort themselves and let me feel comfortable with the environment as well. It may be the case that its a large city, a large university and my position with other postgraduate groups who are much older than previously studied. Some friends I met from either classes and student groups are much older than me. This world showed me sense of maturity and respect.

I used to ask advice from many people about how I go with my friendship with them. Lately, not so much. Once and that is all. Despite people have feelings as well. I feel more normal when come to that situation. Sometimes I feel bad for missing out on things even new friends I made with. I believe that is a norm in a new environment.