Well, it can be isolating, but I've found it reasonably easy to meet people. Having put some thought into why, my idea is that I make myself available and I don't try to hang out with people who don't do the same or aren't fun. You need common ground outside of whatever reason you had for meeting the person. Also, Eastvan is alright and the skateboarding community is super good as two counter examples. I don't have many Chinese friends, but only because they don't happen to be part of the things I do. If you're playing the friend game like you might try and meet someone at a bar, you're not going to succeed too much. Likewise at work. If you meet someone on a hike or at a club or walking around your area hike, and then bring then to the bar, you might have better luck.