that you want to apply for a Phd, and your background, I guess.

agree.. I am quite curious; usually people like to socialize especially when academia is "boring"

hmm, the thing is.. do you really want to waste your time and emotion doing the very non-pleasant self-defending? probably there are good opportunities out there where you can actually have a great time doing a PhD..
I did everything I could to "save" my PhD back then, but none of them was working; I wish I did quit earlier. now I am happy with doing the things I like.
I don't mean it is a bad idea to be persistent, but people don't change easily, even your supervisor is forced to become nicer, who knows whether he will hold the grudge and come back on you sometime later when you make some mistakes. It is a 3-4 year long "relationship", you can't be under such pressure for such long time. besides, you don't have to, just look for a better chance while keeping things "normal" at your present place.

but can you somehow try to figure out why they are like that? probably try to speak with one less "hostile" and ask if he knows why you are being "alienated".
well, if they are just freaks who won't like you, I say keep on working and find a better PhD at the mean time. even though you don't have to, it is still much more fun to work around a bunch of friendly faces..

i think I understand. some people have their own fears.. like I am scared to spiders..
so how about choose a conference nearby and go there by train instead?

can you talk to the partner and split up the workload "officially"?

sciFi, unfortunately you are experiencing exactly what I was going through in my last PhD; my boss was evil and did exactly the same thing "slow progress,", "not bright", " how can you not .." evn my character has been attacked "lack of insight", " should be more critical of my work".. actually, I have a piling list of email from him that is very insulting and derogatory.
and I chose to suffer from for 2 years, trying every desperate way to "kiss his ass". Look how I ended up: I was still forced to leave and became paranoid as all the professors might be like taht and I may insult everyone if I was not extreme-cautious..
so if you stay like this for some other period, you will end up like how I was back then. I am regretting every moment of my life that I should quit that hell like Phd earlier. every more minute staying there was a waste of my young life!
see my point?

first of all, are you interested in research? if not, Phd is not the way to go; if yes, then good chance, and if a strong YES, then absolutely!

my ex-supervisor is like yours, just worse.. it is a torture talking to him. so I found a new position. PhD is not about doing the right thing, but about finding the right thing. if someone can't tell the difference, he/she is not a real scientist. how can someone like this supervise a potential scientist?

gym is not a good sport for phd, it is too lonely.. join some team sports, like volleyball, at least has someone to play with, like tennis. join a club.. then you will relax and build a nice body during PhD..

to rjb203:
where are those international students coming from? usually foreigners are more willing to socialize, as they have not many friends yet.. I am always international as I get my degrees in different countries.. and local guys seem to be exclusively talking to their old friends..

seems enough advice already! just enjoy!

hmm, my first time presentatoin was not difficult. so how about giving it a try? You did some presentation before, right? There is not much difference; just be prepared to answer some questions.

my turn:
1) revise my journal paper, and send it to the coauthor to read
half done.. more complicated than I expected. so try to fix it this week.
2) read through a simulator(not written by myself, and figure out how to improve that)
well, too difficult, horrible simulator.. try to fix it next week.
3) work hard and study hard
pretty much. at least I learnt something.
4) stop worrying and be happy ..
better..
I will send my new week's resolution again later.

the point is to make the aging worthwhile, to become wiser, smarter, more charming and more sophisticated.. while remain happy and carefree even troubles are popping up..