Am I too pessimistic, or did anyone else notice the fact that you got everything you wanted with 'the only other asian guy'. Race matters in friendships more than we realize? I feel if it was a gym full of asian people (or a neighborhood with more asians) it would be way easier for you to socialize and make new friends.

It's more they share a unusual trait that is easy to bond over.

Could be anything really, race, disability, height, metallica t-shirt or whatever.