It seems as though no matter how old we are or where we are in life, we are always looking for an excuse to have a good time. And what better time to celebrate than the holidays! The city seems to come alive during the last three weeks of the year, no matter how hectic our lives.

Living in Vancouver my whole life, I have gotten to know so many different people, all who have one interest in common: celebration!

Most of my time is spent with co-workers, family, and friends. In the last month or so, I have attended work functions, dinner parties with family, Christmas formals with old high school and university friends, and late night soirees with new friends who may or may not share my decade in age. Whether it be dinner, drinks, or the simple mingle, each event had its own taste and feel.

One of the first social events I attended was held by my employer at the Royal Vancouver Yacht Club. The crowd consisted of, but was not restricted to, people in their early thirties to mid forties, which is quite a bit older than myself. Complimentary finger foods were provided and a cash-only bar available at our leisure.

The party had a winter sport theme and conversation was scarce due to the Olympic-themed games that occurred throughout the night. What conversations I did have were with people talking about their spouses or children, neither of which I have. The career topic was brushed on, but never in great detail. It was more so a conversation starter, adding a job description to a name and face.

I’m learning that when there is a bigger age gap between people, discussion is usually more superficial, small talk. In the end, I was essentially describing a bit of myself to others without much substance, without that instant click. Not to say chemistry in a crowd different from my own does not exist, but it seems to come with slight difficulty.

As the month went on, I moved onto parties that were more suitable to my liking. I found myself in crowds with graduate students and young professionals. A friend of mine held a classy get-together at his family townhouse and provided drinks and snacks.

I hardly knew anybody, but the topics of conversation came more smoothly as everyone discussed how they are either finishing off their education or just dipping into a career path. As someone who is fairly comfortable in her position at a financial company, I feel I am still figuring things out; perhaps going back to school is something for me as well?

At this party, I felt I was among my peers, where all of us are transitioning, and I found it incredibly fascinating. One woman I spoke to works in Bermuda in accounting, and the location alone had me intrigued. She drew the similarities between Bermuda and Vancouver, describing the differences as well. It was interesting to hear her talk about a place as far away as Bermuda being similar to Vancouver. But I keep forgetting how incredibly cultured it is here.

Another appealing topic of the night was relationships—not the married kind, but the dating kind. I have difficulty relating to married people, but dating is definitely something I’ve experienced before. It was refreshing to discuss what relationships have been like for others and what they think a relationship at our age should be like.

A man I spoke with seemed to have learned the same life lesson as myself: being in a relationship should not mean losing your individual identity. I cannot help but think this is what others my age are also discovering. They may not be coming to the same conclusions as I am, but they still have similar experiences.

With an older crowd you can get the feeling of a ‘Been There, Done That’ attitude, providing little substance. However, in a group that shares a similar age, the chatter turns into ideas being bounced off one another and that is when you can take something away from the dialogue.

Meeting new people is one of the main aspects in social gatherings. Without taking time away from existing friends, new friends are made and friendships created. I believe that socializing effortlessly occurs more often at events where those around you are like you, same life stage or age range, usually means similar lifestyles and common interests.

Certainly everyone bonds differently, but when I am surrounded by people, new faces or old, I like to associate with those who have familiar concerns and curiosities. It just makes mingling easier and that much more enjoyable.

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Jenny Yang

Sitting at twenty-five, Jenny Yang is an Asian born, Vancouver raised female. Appreciative of most forms of art, her true loves are music and film. Some of her other delights include reading, fashion, and the ballet. Jenny also enjoys sipping on tea or wine in the company of good friends.

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