Living in NRW and new to Toytown Germany

I'm an American woman who has been living here in NRW, Germany with my German husband and our daughter. I have already been living here for just over two years now, and it has been really difficult to settle in.

For one, I seem to be having trouble finding friends in my area, (I'm not in a 'big city', I'm living in a city outside of Wuppertal, which seems to get no attention from American/English-speaking people). I don't have much money, so I don't 'get out' very often, which further complicates matters, understandably. However, I'm getting desperate. I've been here for two years and the only friends I have made are my husband's friends, and I am simply not very close to them. Furthermore, I would be interested in meeting people with little children or babies, as my daughter is just about one year old.

Anyway, that is why I came to this forum. If anyone has any suggestions as to where one might go about finding English-speaking hangouts or activities for parents with small children near Wuppertal, that would be really nice. (I am pretty much only able to get to Wuppertal on weekends, though.) I don't have high expectations, though.

Lastly, yes, I need English or partial English-speakers... despite having been here for two years, my German is terrible (my fault, as I am extremely shy about using it... and it's not very advanced as I have not been able to attend classes due to time and money constraints).

Thank you in advance!

The link below is to an old thread so I suggest you use the Personal Message system to see if these meet ups are still taking place.

Mums in and around Wuppertal

Hi Rose
I am exactly not sure where NRW is as I am new in frankfurt.. I would be happy to chat with u.. I too have 1 1/2 yr old son.. I was a lecturer by profession in India and now have joined my hisband here..Hoping to hear from u.
Regards
Anita

Thank you for the link.

And thank you, anitaramesh. Frankfurt is, if I am not completely mistaken, in Hessen. Northrhine Westfalia (Nordrhein Westfalen) should be almost directly to the west of you. Either way, it's a bit of a ways away. I miss Frankfurt, and Köln.. and Gießen, actually.