National Neighborhood Association Day

Tuesday 5th August this week was the 25th Annual National Night Out Event, an evening  when all neighborhood associations throughout the country have an excuse to get together and have a bash!

Actually the NNO’s website states that :

NATIONAL NIGHT OUT is designed to:

• Heighten crime and drug prevention awareness;
• Generate support for, and participation in, local anticrime programs;
• Strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships; and
• Send a message to criminals letting them know that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back.

I love these things, I love community, getting to know new people – not always easy in Silicon Valley – and especially neighbors who you might otherwise never meet even though they may live just a couple of houses away. I have complained before about neighborhoods being too internalised, about the need for community and events that bring neighbors together so this is a no brainer.  Your only requirement is to live in the association’s area.

If you haven’t got one, start one.  You won’t be alone in wanting to get to know your neighbors.

We started with a block party two years ago, just putting flyers through doors and had a great turn out.  Our second annual block party happened in June again this year and we had games, fabulous and multi-cultural food, great company, and as it was such a hot day, one of our neighbors opened up their pool to everyone!  Great fun and now I rarely walk down the street with my dog without waving or saying Hi to people I now know!

And if you missed out on this year’s NNO event, check the website same time next year and get out there!

International or internal communities?

So here’s the question, what do you think about living in a country and searching out your fellow patriots? Are we just a community of smaller national communities struggling to live in this great state with our French/English/Chinese/Australian friends by our side?

English by birth, I always felt fortunate to be married to an American, and maybe even a little condescending, towards my English friends (mothers of course) who met in groups at the park/restaurant/Starbucks (or should I say British – there were Irish, Scottish and Welsh there too) and ended up discussing British TV shows they missed, where you can buy Heinz baked beans, great British bangers, exchanging Hello magazine sent out here by their families, discussing TV stars who would soon just be a name for them and looking at magazine faces they don’t even recognize anymore, in a vain attempt to stay connected?

What is the point? Why are they here? Just for the sunshine? And where does the language barrier play a role in this? Some people who have moved into my street don’t speak English, their sole friends are those they’ve met here from their own country so they at least can converse with someone who understands them and can support them as they try to navigate the Californian signposts of daily life. But what kind of barrier does that set up between “us” and “them”. How can we ever feel a sense of welcome to a family we never see, hear or know because they can’t speak to us? How do we really feel when we hear that the house is not sold to a Caucasian family – ah well, we won’t get to know yet another neighbor…

And don’t get me started on the American garage – the perfect way never to see anyone in your street.

Do we just wait until the next generation – our kids – can understand one another and be one big American family? Should we be even attempting to integrate these communities into a bigger one, or should we just let them be, finding their way with their own country’s community?

When in Rome?

And watch this space – we are about to have our first block party on Saturday so we get to meet our neighbors. I’ll report back.