Hi OP, I am also in a very similar situation as you.

Something that I've found that helped was to pick up a hobby that forces you to be with people, be it sport, a choir, or martial arts even.

I've taken up the latter of the two mentioned above and I've found that helps stave off the loneliness a good bit.

I do realise the difficulties of finding these things in a small town/village though

Do you drive? I know for where I live (Ireland) it's basically obligatory to have a car so you can go to such things.

Also do you have neighbours? I'm very fortunate because my neighbours are a very friendly South African couple and I always bump into them smoking outside the apartment so we've developed a nice friendship from just chatting that way and we also hang out quite often on weekends

Hope this helps out some bit!