Recently I returned from backpacking throughout Asia for the Christmas holiday period. This followed a one year term working as the Philanthropic and Corporate Engagement Coordinator at Urban Seed – an experience which has been enlightening and joyous. Although I was travelling alone for much of my travels I did not feel alone at any stage and had a wonderful time. Many times a simple smile on my behalf led to the making of brand new friends. In the span of one month I had positively engaged with a great many people from cultures that were both local and from abroad. Entering into such an easily accessible and friendly community was an energising experience.

On my return to Melbourne I attended the famous Melbournian music festival Summerdayz to see my brother DJ. Feeling excited by my recent trip and the great connections that I had so easily made while in Asia, I was confident that I could meet and connect with fellow Melbournians – while meeting friends and family a little later (in the 100,000+ audience!). However, the adventure of meeting new people seemed a great deal more difficult at this concert in Oz. Although I have worked with many communities in Australia, I have always noted this to be a normal and typical experience when trying to freely meet and connect with people on a greater level in Melbourne. Recently a close friend and long-time socialite informed that I could not go out to places individually as I would ‘lose worth’ when meeting new people and thus find it incredibly difficult. 

I wonder if the prosperous Melbournian life that many of friends from overseas seem to be so jealous of has made many of us a little less friendly to strangers and more tightly connected to our own inner-circles. I’m sure that my own experience is not always the norm, but I must say that I have never felt alone whilst travelling or living in Asia.

I value and appreciate the work of Urban Seed because they work hard to crack such boundaries to create a space for those without such luck to have found close friendships, family or to be a part of an ‘inner-circle’. I must say that I’ve never felt unwelcomed nor experienced being an outsider during the times that I’ve shared a meal at Urban Seed’s Credo Cafe – whether I am wearing a suit or shorts and a t-shirt. I hope that I can continue to access these welcoming communities in Melbourne – or follow the Urban Seed philosophy and seed my own.