thanks salukigirl....
yes, I deeply feel that was just because of my gender I was not included....It was not like a group of guys who were working in a same project for example go for a lunch or same group of guys that are friendly together....It was just a group of them....and that's really not good....and of course if I was a guy, they would have asked me to join them too....
However, I don't think about it at all....It's not like something that they do all the time....well...couple of days later I had lunch just with one of the ladies....
In general, I don't feel a safe equal place at my work place here....I have been working in so many different companies and I have lots of experience, but something is definitely wrong in this place....and I blame the manager for that....He can be brutally rude to people....for example, easily he makes fun of one of guys who is Chinese and he doesn't speak fluently....and that Chinese guy has PHD and he's very smart....but poor guy doesn't say a word....It's so sad....One day he was rude calling one of the Indian guys jokingly bastard in the meeting....The guy got really offended and It was not a good situation....My manager is good to me though....but lord, who knows if he changes his mind....
Anyway....I don't want to bother myself too much....I think I will be just assertive and tell them what projects I want to work on....and I continue learning....I don't have to let these small things get into me....
The day that I wrote this thread, I was really angry at them....but I should let it go....
Thanks again
Marjan