Walking into a room where you don’t know anyone can be one of the most intimidating things we do as human beings. The first moments you look around, soaking in the energy, you observe others’ interactions, you assess the environment, and somehow you work up the courage to approach a stranger.
I was invited to an iftar party at Minara, a culture salon in Cambridge, Massachusetts, which I had only just begun going to this month. When I was invited by Jana, one of the founders of Minara, I felt that a chance was taken on me. I didn’t know her that well, but all it takes is a feeling and a mutual longing for connection. We spoke about how difficult it is to form friendships in the Boston area, and that this was a great way to bring people together. The night of the party, the room was buzzing with excitement, “hi, nice to meet you”s, and an overwhelming sense of gratitude for simply being in this space on this Ramadan night.
After living 3 years abroad, I returned to Boston, where I was raised, to give life here a try. As much as it is familiar to me, it is a completely new reality. I left as a recent college graduate, thirsty to explore the world, and returned as a young professional searching for my next job and real friendships. No one warns you how hard it is to find community after school, so when I was invited to this dinner, I was over the moon excited.
Conversations between the 50 invitees ranged from sharing what we were doing in Boston, how we met Jana, or how we knew Minara. One certainty was this: we were all there hoping to form a connection. Whether for friendships, projects, or work, we all wanted to speak with someone new and see if a spark ignited!
After a big welcome, the feast started. The menu was as follows:
Appetizer/ Salads: Tarragon Labneh, Tabbouleh, Microgreens Buratta, Fatteh Betenjan
Fried Goodies: Musakhan Rolls and Rekakat Rolls
Mains: Koshari, Malai Chicken, and Lamb Tagine
Dessert: Tiramisù, Pistachio Matcha Cake with Raspberry Cardamom Jam, Banana Cake with Chocolate Tahini Fudge
My favorites were the Lamb Tagine, Fetteh Betenjan, and the Banana Cake. Dinner was a perfect combination of crunchy freshness with rich, juicy flavors. Once we had finished eating, only a few of us wanted to leave, so we lingered, sipping our drinks, picking out flowers from the bouquet bar, and sharing our projects, hopes, and dreams.
I met someone starting a Muslim women’s collective, a woman organizing justice-for-Palestine events, another starting a fitness community, and another who hosts a book club. As we shared our creative pursuits, the desire to create something meaningful and share it with the world was palpable. We all wanted each other to succeed and offer our support in whichever ways we could.
There’s a certain kind of drive when it comes to young women and our purpose in life. We want the world to see us. We want the world to hear us. This drive stems from pushing beyond the usual boxes the world puts us in based on marriage, motherhood, or physical beauty. There’s a lot we need to show the world and a lot we need to say to the world. So when 50 of us come together, our very existence can be almost overwhelming, thrilling, and all-encompassing.
How do we support each other so our voices are heard amidst all the noise?
It’s all about taking chances. If one stays in their comfort zone, fostering the relationships they already have, the chance of encountering new opportunities and possibilities that go beyond the mundane becomes almost invisible. If Jana had only invited people she knew really well, we 50 young women wouldn’t have had the chance to meet and form new and exciting connections. We wouldn’t have this one night of sharing a meal connecting us. We wouldn’t have a new surge of inspiration driven by human connection and creativity. We wouldn’t have the possibility to work together and share our passions with the world. Well, the thing is, now we do.
Now that we have come together, there is a chance for this to turn into something bigger. Will profound friendships form? Will there be business partnerships created? Will we support each other in our endeavors, whatever they may be? Will a community be built? The possibilities are endless.
If you’ve gotten to the bottom of this post, I would love to hear about your experiences meeting new people as a young adult. How did you go about making new friends? Were you able to create something beyond friendship? What does community look like to you, and how do you build it?
Grazie mille and wishing you the best food adventures.
until the next meal,
Nadà
P.S. - Feel free to share this post with anyone who might learn something, enjoy, or smile while reading! If you’d like future stories delivered straight to your inbox, drop your email below.
Nada, this is a lovely piece about an experience that is both universal and completely personal.
I found my first post-college friend on the first day of language school in a new country. We mastered a new language, became mothers, and formed sisterhood while abroad. After spending our days together for over three years, we moved to different locations. We see each other rarely, but we speak often, deeply connected conversations in which we steward each other through difficult moments, cheer each other on in capstone moments, and interweave the moments of our daily lives. Its now twenty-five years since we met. She is still my best friend.
Its true that building friendship and community in new places can be difficult. But you are on your way! You've started friendships that, twenty-five years from now, will be deep, strong and miraculous. They will feel like home.
A beautifully written article detailing such a fulfilling night. I’m so grateful to have been in attendance 🤍