I remember as if it was today. In my second week in town, I was working
in my office when my advisor came to tell me that there was a tornado
watch/warning (at that time I didn't know the difference) and everybody
should go to the shelter downstairs and stay there for a while. As I had
just arrived and didn't know what to do, I did what he told me to. In
the shelter, everybody was talking to each other and I was feeling a complete
stranger and uncomfortable. This tall guy from India came to talk to me
and introduced himself-Pratik. After that, Pratik invited me to a Coffee
Hour they were going to have at the Cosmopolitan Club. I asked my roommate
if she wanted to go with me and when we arrived there, it was kind of
late. Everybody was very quiet listening to someone that was playing music.
We thought that was really strange, and just waited until the person finished
to leave. I don't even remember if I talked to Pratik that day. The first
impression of Cosmo was very weird. It was my first contact with another
culture, my first social event in town. I didn't know if that was normal
or not.
Since then, Pratik invited me to go everywhere, and that way I made new
friends. I started to go more often to the Coffee Hours and to be more
interested in the way that house makes you feel as if you were at home.
I think it is very nice to know other cultures. Special ceremonies, food,
music, all kinds of entertainment. Going to Cosmo was always a way to
learn more for me, although now I know many people go there to chat and
eat something.
One day, at work, Pratik came to me and asked if I wanted to give a Brazilian
Coffee Hour. I was afraid of that. I thought it was a lot of work and
too much responsibility for me. But I agreed. I'm really glad I said yes.
It was the first of a series of Brazilian Coffee Hours and dinners. The
first one was very simple. I wanted to show something really Brazilian
and started to look for someone to dance. I didn't know many Brazilians
at that time, but one guy said he was going to do it-Angelo Pascale. It
was the beginning of a wonderful friend-relationship. The Coffee Hour
was a great success and that was the first step for me to become a "member"
of Cosmo. Many people thought I lived at the house, but the truth is that,
although I didn't live there, I always felt, as if it was my home.
I spent many hours there with my friends. I have good memories of the
afternoons we used to play volleyball or get together for potlucks, movies,
or dance. Pratik, Shola, Joe, John, Yasemin, Mariko, Akisa…I miss
that a lot now. It looks like everybody is very busy. Some of the friends
left for good, others are still in town, but we see each other just once
in a while. I know that life goes on and on. Some people just pass through
our lives to leave something good, others stay forever. I think Pratik
is going to stay. He is not the kind of person that won't keep in touch.
It is very nice the way he helps people that just arrived. Every time
there is someone new that I know, I talk about Cosmo and even take this
person to one of the Coffee Hours. If Pratik is there I introduce him
as the first friend I met here.
People usually like a lot the kind of entertainment Cosmo offers. I am very glad that I was able to take part in this "community." I feel very happy that people enjoy the things I have made for Cosmo until now. It was wonderful to be invited as one of the speakers for the last International Dinner at the YMCA and specially to be recognized for everything I have done. And now this article: I feel special and I want to thank Pratik, who brought me into Cosmo, and Andrea Shields, who always trusted me to organize and help in all the events they promote. To finish, I would like to thank God for having let me do something so special like this. It was through the Cosmopolitan Club that I had the opportunity to meet someone who turned out to be an important part of my life.
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| Claudia, Mariko, and Yasemin. | Pratik, Joe, Stefan, Shola, and Claudia. |