You're in a pretty unique position here, because you're both new. That's something massive you have in common. It's almost expected in most situations that the new people will find each other and chat.
Her friends don't know you and you don't know them either, so maybe you could make friends with them. The more friends the merrier! However, make sure to talk to her while you're both new people!
Pretty soon you will have been there for a few months and before you know it, you'll be treated like you've been there forever.
I cant really gove you an answer,but what I can give you is a way to a solution, that is you have to find the anglde that you relate to or peaks your interest. A good paper is one that people get drawn into because it reaches them ln some way.As for me WW11 to me, I think of the holocaust and the effect it had on the survivors, their families and those who stood by and did nothing until it was too late.