New Friends, Old Friends

Post Reply New Topic

So, this is my problem. I've gradually made some good friends over the past 3 years and we now spend almost all of our in-school time together. (We're all too busy to see each other much outside of school). Recently a new student transferred into my high school from Vietnam. He's reasonably fluent in English, although his accent is quite strong and can make it difficult to understand what he's saying. Anyway, he doesn't have many friends and we get along very well when he asks me for help with stuff--mostly understanding what's being asked of him in his schoolwork.

Anyway, I'd like to become friends with him. However, my old friends show absolutely no interest in doing this (not that I've asked). They're pleasant to him, but don't show any desire to carry on a conversation. So, how do I become friends with this new guy without becoming more distance with my old friends? To make matters worse, I find it very awkward to talk to people 1 on 1 and where I'm the only person who seems interested on befriending this guy that's all I can do. So, any advice anyone?

Do you spend your entire day with this guy? You can understand your other friends quite well, and assuming you see them enough, keeping up with them shouldn't be terribly hard. There will still be sacrifices, as you are doing noble work. Certainly, as he advances, he will be able to communicate better with others, and you problem may be solved eventually.

I suppose that's true. But there is still the problem of awkwardness in making conversation. I've never really succeeded in consciously trying to make a friend before--it's always just sort of happened, so I don't really know what to do here.