By Jacklyn Chantry-Blogger

It is not uncommon to be plagued with new requests to join Networking Groups everyday.

Being an International in Aarhus I am no exception. I have joined many of these groups and promised myself that I would attend and meet others in the area. As the days went by, events have come and gone. Half- hearted attempts to attend with last minute excuses for cancelling meant I was missing out a lot if what was going on around Aarhus.

My 4th Year teacher told us –“You only get out of something what you put in.” So I decided I would commit to an event and see it through.
So I Signed up for a Salsa Class and sent out requests for people to attend with me. I was positive I would have to attend alone but this wasn’t going to deter me.

I found a partner in crime and off we went to the Salsa Night in Café Paradis. Now, the best part of this night was that the Class was for free and it was full to the brim with other Internationals.

I met people of all Nationalities and got into the rhythm of the night. I love Salsa-I love the music, dancing and the social aspect of it. It didn’t matter what our Nationalities were as we could communicate through the language of dance.

When the class was over we had the option to remain and dance the night away. The Class was being run by a local Salsa group—Aarhus Mambo Klub– so some of their members came to perform a show after the class.

Then it was an open dance floor to Salsa the night away. Ready to hit the dance floor, I looked around to find that all the others who had been with me in the class an hour earlier had scurried off to the back of the bar or had totally disappeared.
The female members from the Salsa Group were being whisked out on the dance floor by the males. I wasn’t going to put up with this. I came to dance. Not to watch everyone else having fun.

So the music slowed and changed tempo. Now I wasn’t dressed in the fine attire of the other females- To be honest, I barely dressed myself and made it to class because of an over-zealous night the night before. So I can understand I wasn’t going to be any male’s first choice to ask out to dance.

With a feck this attitude I saw that the dance floor was emptying. So I seized the moment and asked a guy to take me out to dance. It couldn’t be that bad.

So trying to use my newfound Salsa knowledge the guy looked at me with a bemused face and said, “You do know how to Cha-Cha”…
WHATTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT?????? I haven’t a clue how to Cha –Cha.. I was on the dance floor with him now—–It was too late to leave..

I had to go for it. 1, 2, Cha cha cha etc… So hungover to the high hills thinking I was going to Salsa, here I was strutting my stuff to the Cha-Cha, and Luckily for me my dance partner was well able to lead me and I survived the dance.
Now I was the swing of things and wanted to stay out dancing. The trouble with Salsa or many dancing events is that the ratio of Women to Men is never equal so again I had to sit out dances while the Seasoned, Well Dressed, Pretty females got picked over and over again to dance.

So back to my Cha-Cha partner for a dance- This time it was Salsa–Cuban Style— The best thing about a great dance partner is that they make you feel like you know what your doing and forget about the pro dancers you are sharing the dance floor with.
Tiredness kicked in and I had to make an early exit leaving my Partner in Crime there to dance the night away.
I had met lots of other Internationals, had a great night and look forward to doing it again. Filled with a new optimism for Networking sites I continued my search to see what else I could use them for. I have since located an Irish Babysitter living in Aarhus, Mother Groups, Coffee Days, Movie nights, Brunch/Dinner days/nights. All these great opportunities right here on my doorstep with the focus on many of them being FREE AND CHILD FRIENDLY.

I can’t believe I have not availed of all these services or tried to meet others for the past year. It makes my life more exciting knowing that I can have my pick of events and meetings I can attend. Life in Aarhus is not so lonely now. I know there are lots of other International Moms who are as eager as I am to try and meet up and help each other Whether you are living in Aarhus, Australia or Athlone, I would really suggest you check out what’s going in your area. Join the groups that interest you, get involved, get active, get a new lease on life!!!!