Q: The first step in meeting people is to go out and explore your new town. If you can't think of anything to do, start by going out to a restaurant and eating. Take a book with you so you have something to do. It may seem counter-intuitive to take a book with you, but it could act as a conversation starter. Find a restaurant that has a bar you can sit at. Bars are great for eating by yourself, but they also put you with others who may also be eating alone. It may be easier to strike up a conversation if you are eating around other people rather than sitting in a booth by yourself. Explore your city. Start by finding the main streets and walk through some of the shops you find. Introduce yourself to the people there and let them know you are new in town. They may be able to help you find some things to do to get to know people. See what kind of clubs and classes your new town offers. Whether it's a martial arts school or a yoga class, if you join a club, you're bound to meet someone you get along with. If you're still in school and trying to make new friends, joining a club is the way to go. You're more likely to meet other kids who enjoy the same activities as you do if you find a club to join. Common interests and goals are an excellent foundation for friendship. Groups that meet regularly offer consistency, making it easier to get to know people. Groups also offer a natural ice breaker. If you join a club or class, you will be forced to interact with people. This allows you to avoid all the stress of having to approach a new person and introduce yourself. Volunteer groups may also be a good way to meet people with similar interests. Volunteering is also an excellent way to practice social skills if you're having trouble meeting people. Websites like Meetup.com and Craigslist may be able to help you find groups in your area. If you can't find anything, you can always start your own. Check online for things that are happening in your city. Look for things such as concerts or sporting events. Get to know some of the venues in your town, and check their websites. Public libraries can also be a good source of information if you're looking for events in the area. When you go out to events, try to mingle a little bit. Make an effort to get to know other people at the event. Show an interest in other people rather than trying to make people interested in you. Approaching a complete stranger can be difficult. Even if you know you're likely to have something in common with someone, you may still struggle with introducing yourself. Look for talking points to start your conversation with someone new. If you're at an event, look around you. See if you can spot anything unusual in the room. If there is art on the walls, comment on it. If the food is good (or bad) use that as a conversation starter. Your opening line doesn't have to be anything grand, it just has to get the other person talking. Try asking simple questions such as, "What brings you here," or "How long have you lived here?" Don't ask anything too personal, just aim for small talk in the beginning. Introduce yourself as soon as you get a chance. A simple, "Hi, my name's [first name]," followed by a handshake is a quick, easy greeting. If you aren't sure if someone wants to talk to you, give a quick smile. If you get a return smile, walk over and introduce yourself. You can usually tell if someone isn't interested in making conversation. If you try to approach someone and they give you quick responses, or they seem disinterested, leave them alone. If you're starting a new job in your new city, get to know your co-workers. If you hit it off with one of your co-workers, invite them out to lunch. Try not to fall into a routine of going to work and then going straight home. If you and a co-worker get off at the same time, put yourself out there and see if they want to hang out. See if your company has any carpooling programs. If they don't, see if anyone you work with is interested in sharing rides. Carpooling can be a great way to connect with people you work with.
A: Go out. Join a club. Find events to attend. Break the ice. Talk to your co-workers.

Q: Figure out with your friend beforehand a distress signal that you each can use to get out of a boring or uncomfortable situation. It could be a word or a gesture. Here are some suggestions: Tugging your earlobe A word you wouldn't use otherwise in conversation Winking If your friend seems like they're having fun, let them know that you're going to leave. If they give you a stressed look or your sign of distress, don't go. But, if they tell you they're having a good time and seem as though they would be okay without you, then leave the conversation. You can chat up other people in the group, use the restroom, or go find someone else to talk to. Don't ditch your friend with this new person. Gauge the situation to see if they want to be left alone, or if your friend wants you to come back to rescue them. You can shoot them a quick text, or make eye contact with them from across the room. Either way, don't abandon your friend for the night without checking in with them first.
A:
Have a distress signal. Leave the conversation. Determine if you should return.