Finding Community

Something I did not do well at the last place I lived was making new connections. Being new to Pittsburgh, where I literally began knowing no one, is forcing me (in a good way!) to get out of my comfort zone.

We tend to flex as ambiverts depending on what the occasion calls with a distinct preference when we’re in our most natural state. For me, that tends to introversion. I knew if I wanted to make friends, this natural state was one I was going to have to temper down a bit.

After nearly three months of living in Pittsburgh and finally feeling settled, I attended my first social event. It was an undergraduate alumni get-together that brought food and indoor mini golf together at Puttshack in the Strip District Terminal. I am so happy I did because the venue, people, and food were awesome!

I connected with two alumni. Over a well-catered meal of assorted light bites and dessert, we chatted about memories of campus life. We finished the evening playing a round of indoor mini-golf (so fun!). Before I left, I exchanged contact info with them, and I am very happy to have these connections. We’ve done happy hour at Eddie Merlot’s (I highly recommend it) and plan to hit our alma mater’s football game where we are going to have the full tailgating experience (oh my!).

With one of these alumni connections and her friend, I attended Babesburgh Bash. It was, hands-down, one of the best festivals I’ve attended. The vibe was chill yet exciting, welcoming, and friendly. Participants of most festivals I’ve attended tended to stick to their own group and give me unwelcoming looks when I’ve tried to begin conversations. At Babesburgh, people were so open and up for conversations! When we saw the same people circulating around the same tents, we’d smile and chat about the quality of the products and why we kept coming back.

The festival had themed areas, and apparently, I was feeling so good that I fell, hard, in the wellness area. I suppose if one is to have a hard fall, doing so in the wellness area is the best place. People were so nice and concerned, and one person even picked me up from the ground! I mean – what was that metal sculpture, with a rounded three-stair base, doing blocking my way?

I detoured to the Andy Warhol Museum for about half an hour to wash my wounds and cool down from the heat. The Carnegie Museums need to add that to its list of member benefits: when you fall near one of our museums, come in and clean those wounds without paying for admissions!

I attended the festival right when it opened, and the other two arrived about two hours later. The old me would have communicated my injuries and that I was heading back home. This new me decided to tough it out for the sake of meeting new people. And it was so worth it. Rather than quickly walking past stalls and popping into the few that piqued my interest then leaving, being with other people forced me to slow down and appreciate the stalls I passed with a different perspective. I also got to make a new connection and have some deep, meaningful conversations. It was such a good time that we left when the festival ended. That is something I’ve never done.

In general, I’ve only met warm, kind, generous people here in Pittsburgh, and I am so excited to strengthen new connections and continue to create new ones!

What techniques have you used to get out of your own progress? Which are the most successful?

Souvenir tote bag from Babesburgh Bash