wish me luck- I am going to be so brave tonight

[abroadandmisunderstood]

I shall be going out on my own tonight for the first time since November 2005.

I am going to an International Evening in my small town where everyone will speak mostly German. It is a women only night and not only will I walk in knowing NOBODY but I also have to cook food for it AND perform something, ie. poem, dance, song.

I am terrified but this is the best chance I have of finding someone who might speak English. Maybe I will even make a friend and I won't feel so lonely.

As a quiet and shy person I am throwing myself in at the deep end. DH can't believe I am actually going to do it!!!

I think you should do the David Brent Dance, and make friends with the person choking with hysterical laughter.

There will only be one who gets the joke. Everyone else will be sitting in open-mouthed silence just as in The Office.

Good luck and have fun!

You are one brave woman - but you may well end up having a great time. Hope it goes well.

Lol at the david brent dance.
You are being very brave, have a lovely time!

ninedragons, that is hilarious!!

I can't believe I'm actually going to go through with tonight, but I know that if I don't, I stand no chance of finding anyone in this town that I can talk to.

God I hope some English speakers come...

I would never do that (at least not without being in a group of maybe 10), good for you! What is your performance going to be then?

I think I might play a Debussy Arabesque as I'm a bit nifty on the old piano.

That said, I don't know if the building actually HAS a piano, so I might get lucky and not have to "perform".

I'm beginning to feel a little queasy with nerves. I'm going to cook some bitesize scones today to take along.

piano sounds good. Good place to hide.

And if not what are you going to perform? Do a strip? I wouldn't have a clue what to do tbh

I'm also quite shy, but if I were in your position, I would definitely go. The worst thing is that you'll be really nervous - so that's not so bad, is it?

mind you reading a poem or a short story might be ok, get through it quick

Maybe I should read the Gruffalo. Love that story!

I'd read a story before I'd sing a song tbh

What else could you do? A little Scottish dance?

Good luck - hope there will be a piano. I suppose you could read something like a classic German springtime poem and depending on your accent at least everyone will know you're from UK and you'll get to know the ones who want to speak English (there will be some for sure)

That's the only friend I had in the little village where the dc were small - a SAHM with 3 dc who loved speaking English. At the time I rather wanted to improve my German but I was so in need of a friend that I didn't mind chatting in English.

Just read our German chat title poem and you'll be off the stage and done with it within 30 seconds:

Frühling läßt sein blaues Band
Wieder flattern durch die Lüfte
Süße, wohlbekannte Düfte
Streifen ahnungsvoll das Land
Veilchen träumen schon,
Wollen balde kommen
Horch, von fern ein leiser Harfenton!
Frühling, ja du bist's!
Dich hab ich vernommen!

Wonder why everyone has to perform though. It's a bit off-putting really, ísn't it? Not everyone is a born performer.

go on now, tell some German jokes

or what about that thing where you fill glasses with different amounts of water and pling at them with a spoon. Don't know about your Arabesque but maybe a carnival song.

Seriously tryign to imagine myself performing at an international night now. Really don't see it.

You are not at all shy really are you aam? In truth you're a feisty little thing

You could read my favourite Scottish poem

Breathes there a man, with soul so dead,
Who never to himself has said,
This is my own, my native land!
Whose heart hath ne'er within him burned,
As home his footsteps he hath turned

Sir Walter Scott.

I would go for a poem or something in English, be exotic.

or you could sing "if it wasnae for my wellies" by Billy Connelly.

I like ninedragon's idea.

Well done for going.

Oh it's an international night! Then you could say a poem in English or tell a joke, if you get there late and are then put at the end of the list of performances you might not get the chance - run out of time?

LOL at getting there late. That's a good act.

you could also EXPLAIN jokes. That would go down well

You lot are making me laugh so much!

I'm getting a headache from the stress of walking in there though. I have SO much to do today. I've also got to fit in a bit of piano practice when the boys are asleep.

How about a couple of jokes? Here are two that are likely to help you make friends

What's the difference between a German and a shopping trolley?

A shopping trolley has a mind of its own

Do you know why Germans build such high-quality products?

So they won't have to go around being nice while they fix them.

mmelindt, I liked them but better not..!

just wondering how you get balloons naked

I do hope you post a video of this on youtube aam