Toronto is known as the most diverse city in the world, and it is no surprise that two neighbours in the city can be from opposite sides of the world. There are different parts of the city in which people all over the world come together and create their own communities, like Chinatown and Greektown. You may not be Chinese or Greek, but still live in that area, buy a house and live side by side with different cultures. What are the similarities and the differences when living together from different backgrounds? Let’s look into them.
Why Toronto?
Toronto is a hotspot for many immigrants due to the opportunities available and the living space. Its climate is manageable, and the geography is full of hills, lakes, and open parks, perfect for trekking. This is why people decide to move to Toronto, acknowledging all the beautiful landscapes and the activities available, perfect for keeping busy as well as mingling with family and friends. There are plenty of social venues, including indoors for the winters, clubs and malls, so much to see and do. They also acknowledge how diverse the city is and to expect living with cultures you may not be familiar with. As more people get to know each other and learn more about cultures, we slowly get closer and become acquainted with each other, maybe even friends. Life is full of surprises, and you never know who might want to be your friend.
Cultural Festivals
In Toronto, people love taking to the streets and partaking in festivals, such as the Roncesvalles Polish festival, with Polish foods you can try and see if you’d like to buy. Street festivals are a great way of getting to know people and learning about their backgrounds in a fun and festive way.
When you converse with people in a fun and active scenario, you feel more comfortable in sharing your thoughts, maybe a sport you and your new friends are interested in. Be social and active, letting the energy of the festival or other social event make you want to talk!
Neighbor Conversations
Living side by side with people is reason enough to get to know them, next to a house or an apartment unit. When you walk out together, feel free to ask about each other and learn more about each other, slowly and naturally. Do not feel you must force yourself to make conversations or indulge in awkward antics (like joke telling) just to get to know each other. Who knows, you two might bump into each other at a cultural festival or an ethnic restaurant, perfect for social engagements. After all, Toronto is a big city full of activities and social institutions, so there is no shortage of places to speak and learn about your neighbor’s culture.
Remember, be respectful and pay attention to the norms of different cultures, to show you are an accepting person, which will attract relationships with you. You never know who might become your good friend, starting off as an immigrant neighbour at first. This is motivation enough to get started learning about your local neighbourhoods, who might be different but a potential friend.
Babak Eslami | Writer
