How can an introvert Asian engineer like me make friends?

A lil background.

I worked my ass off, for a cs degree thinking once the money will rake in, I'll get a girlfriend, friends and all the life style I wanted.

Once I got a job, I found myself going right after work studying coursera class ML, to find a better paying job to support my parent. Eventually I ended up depress...

I started to workout again and eventually reconnect with my college friends. Unfortunately it was really hard but got some decent friends out of it.

I was lucky because I was working near my university so my old friends are still around. I was horrible at keeping in touch.

Anyway here's the deal, I didn't really acquire the skill to make friend with strangers during this time. I moved to a new city and realized I don't have the luxury of being nearby old friends like my old job living nearby my university. I had no existing connection I can call up and work the existing connection for new friends.

I did eventually learn how to make friends and it was through PUA, pick up artist. Yeah it's fucking weird.

But let me try to explain what happened. Once I got some friends going, a few nothing major, this is back at my university I got lonely and wanted a girlfriend. Most of my friends are usually busy except for one, I found out he was doing this pick up artist thing. The whole thing is weird there are some good and bad to it, I like to think I chosen the good thing out of this whole underground society.

But I eventually learned how to approach random strangers and make a comment or two. The seduction/pua community call this process opening. I spent two years on and off opening girls on the street of hollywood.

Eventually I moved to a new city and...

It was great, being able to approach women but the problem eventually I realized was I couldn't hold a conversation. I got rid of my "approach anxiety" and can go up to stranger and just open but I can't hold a conversation worth at damn.

The problem was I was doing this at night time and practicing night time, at least to me, didn't enable me to practice the other seduction techniques of conversation. I spent roughly 3 months so far this year during the day holding a conversation.

I got three new friends out of it and can hold decent conversation with strangers now (male and female).

How the hell do you make friends using PUA? By holding a conversation.

I talked to this girl at starbuck, got her number, and eventually she invited me to do activity with her. She have become a close friend and I've done tons of activities with her now and planning a few more. Within the seduction/pua community I've made friends.

Well anyway take it as you will.

edit:

I'm Asian short ESL btw. The PUA taught lots of things including destroying any insecurities I had.

edit2:

I also had to learn how to keep in touch too. It's fucking stupid but yeah.

Every friday I'll be on aim and message people with it's FRIIIIIIDAY and how's your weekend looking?

I know it sounds stupid but omg, I was retarded on keeping in touch.

Wow that just about sums me up right there. I can make friends with pretty much any one but as soon as they leave the day to day interactions I just don't make that effort. It's certainly something I've been working on as there's no shortage of ways that I can interact with people that move away or move to a different job.

Thank you jonnathanson, you helped out me out today.

Argentine Tango classes. Seriously. The bay area has some fantastic tango opportunities! No partner needed.

Find a friendly, welcoming instructor and go to learn about the dance and culture. Something curious: In the Seattle area at least the Tango community is full of engineering types.

One of the great things about tango is how you ask people to dance. With your eyes and nod of your head. It takes an amazing amount of pressure off when you don't have to walk up to someone to ask them to dance. Something which terrified me, sans alcohol, until I was in my mid-40s and started tango.

You'll definitely make friends. And there are opportunities, especially in your area, to socialize as often as you wish. I feel like I acquired an entire family by joining the tango community.

what does being Asian have anything to do with this?

"I have learned the art of being incredibly outgoing and a veritable chatterbox when need be."

How did you learn ?