From the family environment, feelings of lost trust, to a residence association providing a functional community lifestyle, represent some different local community experiences. This is what Epoch Times reporters from Peru to Romania discovered when they asked locals: “Where you live, do you feel a sense of community?”
New Farm, Brisbane, Australia
Rex Szwaskowski, 35, Shop Manager
Where we live at the moment, New Farm in Brisbane, it does have a good community feel. It’s got a lot of activities for our children, a fantastic park, [and] local cafes. You get to meet your neighbors, borrow a cup of sugar, and see them at the local grocery stores. We really like it. It’s nice and safe and there’s a lot of community programs on.
Rex Szwaskowski, 35, Shop Manager
Where we live at the moment, New Farm in Brisbane, it does have a good community feel. It’s got a lot of activities for our children, a fantastic park, [and] local cafes. You get to meet your neighbors, borrow a cup of sugar, and see them at the local grocery stores. We really like it. It’s nice and safe and there’s a lot of community programs on.
Lima, Peru
Estela Luque, 38, Cosmetologist
Where I live the sense of community has already been lost, therefore, there is no trust. I have just moved and where I live I don’t have family. I only have neighbors; I work all day and arrive home late at night and now we mistrust all, including our shadow.
Estela Luque, 38, Cosmetologist
Where I live the sense of community has already been lost, therefore, there is no trust. I have just moved and where I live I don’t have family. I only have neighbors; I work all day and arrive home late at night and now we mistrust all, including our shadow.
Bucharest, Romania
Lavinia Craciun, 21, Psychology Student
I live in an area with houses and there I could say that I feel a sense of community. We stop to talk to each other, we exchange news, we meet together at the church, etc. But I could not generalize this for the whole of Bucharest. At the same time, at school, I feel I belong to a community both because I am the “On Therapy” Project manager in the Psychology Students Association of our faculty, and because I am sociable and I easily interact with people.
Lavinia Craciun, 21, Psychology Student
I live in an area with houses and there I could say that I feel a sense of community. We stop to talk to each other, we exchange news, we meet together at the church, etc. But I could not generalize this for the whole of Bucharest. At the same time, at school, I feel I belong to a community both because I am the “On Therapy” Project manager in the Psychology Students Association of our faculty, and because I am sociable and I easily interact with people.
Brooklyn, Wellington, New Zealand
Sumin Ranchh, 40, Accountant
Yes I do. We live in Brooklyn and we’ve got a pretty good community structure. It’s got a residence association, so they pretty much, as a group, take care of most interests that the community is affected by. I’m not directly involved, only when it affects any issues that relate to the area I live in. So I get involved then and with the school that our children go to. You’d like to think it makes a difference, and when you get many people together sounding a voice then it’ll make a difference. Sometimes you’re up against politics and that sort of stuff.
Sumin Ranchh, 40, Accountant
Yes I do. We live in Brooklyn and we’ve got a pretty good community structure. It’s got a residence association, so they pretty much, as a group, take care of most interests that the community is affected by. I’m not directly involved, only when it affects any issues that relate to the area I live in. So I get involved then and with the school that our children go to. You’d like to think it makes a difference, and when you get many people together sounding a voice then it’ll make a difference. Sometimes you’re up against politics and that sort of stuff.
Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain
Susana María Suarez Sosa, 40, Sales Agent
In the neighborhood where I live there exists a nice sense of community especially when we are preparing religious festivities at Our Lady of Miracles. On those occasions some people from different villages meet to prepare the chants while others meet to prepare the rest of things.
Susana María Suarez Sosa, 40, Sales Agent
In the neighborhood where I live there exists a nice sense of community especially when we are preparing religious festivities at Our Lady of Miracles. On those occasions some people from different villages meet to prepare the chants while others meet to prepare the rest of things.
Ekerö, Sweden
Åsa Åkerman, 60, Paramedic
No. I have lived here since 1994. We are often out of town. People move around a lot here, there is a large relocation. The rents have been high ever since the houses were built. People move in and live for just a short time. But there are also people who enjoy living here, like we do. I believe one reason might be that if you own your place you show more interest in your neighbors, and also you have an interest in preserving the status of the neighborhood.
Åsa Åkerman, 60, Paramedic
No. I have lived here since 1994. We are often out of town. People move around a lot here, there is a large relocation. The rents have been high ever since the houses were built. People move in and live for just a short time. But there are also people who enjoy living here, like we do. I believe one reason might be that if you own your place you show more interest in your neighbors, and also you have an interest in preserving the status of the neighborhood.
Bratislava, Slovakia
Martina Ocenasova, 17, Data Collector
No, I don’t feel I’m part of some community, because I always thought of myself as being outstanding. I don’t need to belong somewhere. I have my own style.
Martina Ocenasova, 17, Data Collector
No, I don’t feel I’m part of some community, because I always thought of myself as being outstanding. I don’t need to belong somewhere. I have my own style.
Horni Hermanice, Czech Republic
Katerina Poulova, 28, Teacher
I believe people live more for themselves. Everyone has their own interests, but often they are concerned with things they don’t really need to be, and so the community cohesion is in the mayor’s hand. He organizes events that allow people to meet each other and know each other better.
Katerina Poulova, 28, Teacher
I believe people live more for themselves. Everyone has their own interests, but often they are concerned with things they don’t really need to be, and so the community cohesion is in the mayor’s hand. He organizes events that allow people to meet each other and know each other better.
Sicilia, Italy
Roberto Regina, Business Management
I am from Sicilia, but now live in Terranuova Bracciolini. In general, here, in Arezzzo and Toscana, when people awake in the morning, immediately they are doing everything very fast, without time for nothing and nobody. They say: ‘Hello, I am going to … ,’ and never stop; then for me, now, my life is the same. I live around the little city, close to the land, but people are the same; not quite, all their time is spent on their occupation. In Sicilia people are more together in the bar, in the street, with an increased sense of community.
Roberto Regina, Business Management
I am from Sicilia, but now live in Terranuova Bracciolini. In general, here, in Arezzzo and Toscana, when people awake in the morning, immediately they are doing everything very fast, without time for nothing and nobody. They say: ‘Hello, I am going to … ,’ and never stop; then for me, now, my life is the same. I live around the little city, close to the land, but people are the same; not quite, all their time is spent on their occupation. In Sicilia people are more together in the bar, in the street, with an increased sense of community.
Look for the Global Q&A column every week. Epoch Times correspondents interview people around the world to learn about their lives and perspectives on local and global realities. Next week’s global question: “How well do you feel your country is balancing technology and nature in educating children?”
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