I’ve been living in my new apartment in Boston for almost a year now. When I moved in, my roommates and I were all strangers to each other. Our apartment is in a great neighborhood, where two identical apartment buildings sit facing a beautiful little courtyard—a common space for all six units within the two buildings. Over the last year I’ve said hello to neighbors in passing, smiled as we passed each other on our running or walking paths, and waved when we drove by each other in the parking area. Aside from those small interactions, none of us really knew each other.
Last week, my roommates and I decided it was time to get everyone together and really get to know our neighbors. We circled around our kitchen counter and wrote out five invitation cards that had details for a neighbor happy hour in the courtyard on Friday evening. We slid them under everyone’s doors and hoped for the best. We went into this with the thought that if worse came to worst and no one showed up, the four of us would at least have a nice happy hour together.
Friday came around and a few neighbors were out mingling, talking about their cocktail recipes, and maintaining small talk. As the evening went on, more and more of our neighbors started to show up. Some brought a friend, significant others, or were there with their roommates. As I looked around, I was shocked that we had people from every single unit out enjoying happy hour and meeting the people they’ve shared walls with for at least a year. What was planned to be a quick one to two hour get together evolved into an all-night event with people who were perfect strangers.
Part way through the night one of the units opened their bulkhead and let us know that their band would be live streaming in the basement starting at 8. Once they got started, we went down to see what they were all about. As I walked into their basement, I couldn’t believe what I saw. They had an entire set up with a decorated room and their jazz band was set in place and ready to play. We sat downstairs and listened to the band play a New Orleans inspired set for an hour. It was such a happy surprise and an experience unlike anything else. It was really humbling that they were willing to open their space to all of us and perform for people they hadn’t even met until a few hours prior. I am officially a huge fan of their band and will definitely be back for another show. Here is the link to their live stream for anyone interested.
There were multiple times throughout the night that I sat back and really looked around me. In my own tiny radius, I couldn’t help but feel overwhelmed that this one idea turned into something so special. There were so many people who represented different races, ethnicities, cultures, religions, and beliefs. There were neighbors who found out they grew up in the same part of upstate New York; went to the same high school; are in the same program at Harvard for graduate school; people who learned that their neighbors who move in September are also moving cross country to California; those who connected through music, and all in all, a small corner of one community realizing how easy it is to make connections to perfect strangers.
This get together was the perfect way to show that when it comes down to it, we all have a lot more in common than we might initially have thought. At the end of the day, that’s what our world needs, now more than ever—people who are all so intricately different from one another: to teach, to learn from, and to share with. I think this experience meant a lot to me for a lot of reasons. I was able to recognize that I want to be more involved in my community and those who I live and work with. I want to embrace finding friends in complete strangers, and that I will hold myself accountable to always be a good neighbor. It was clear that after months of quarantine and self-isolation that people need other people. We need these interactions and connections. That was one of the most common things people expressed as I talked to them. Someone even shared that she’s an extreme introvert and even she was excited for this event when she saw the invitation. This experience really highlighted for me just how important it is to put yourself out there and make the effort to meet new people, and people that aren't just like you.
I saw this quote yesterday and thought it was fitting for my experience on Friday night, so I thought I’d share it with you.
“Become friends with people who aren’t your age. Hang out with people whose first language isn’t the same as yours. Get to know someone who doesn’t come from your social class. This is how you see the world. This is how you grow.”