Baker House is the on-campus housing for UFV students studying in Abbotsford. Once a month, residents propose an activity they would like to have, such as watching movies or language exchange meetups. The barbeque feast is one of those interesting events; it is a time where residents can socialize, make new friends, and get to know others living in Baker House. It had been two weeks since the summer move-in and we’d all been invited to the barbeque feast on Friday, May 10. I asked Christine Zapisocki, manager of housing and residence life, about the purpose of the event.
“Sharing a meal is a simple, yet powerful tool for building community. It is a universal tradition that brings the students living in housing together, builds relationships, and creates common space for community to grow in.”
The event started at 5:00 p.m. on the beautiful patio behind the residence. We came out and asked if we could help with anything, but it seemed like everything was ready to start. The barbeque was on and sausages were already being grilled.
The feast was small, but charming and organized. The food was divided into two tables. Bread, ice cream, iced tea, pasta, ketchup, and all kinds of other sauces were on the first table. But the second table was what we were looking for: there were about 40 chicken, pork, and veggie sausages.
A few of us had just moved into Baker House two weeks prior. As newcomers, we were all trying to get accustomed to life there and get to know each other better. The party did a good job of connecting us as a community. I talked to some people for the first time, but it was as if we had known each other for years.
“When we come together to eat, we know the food we are eating is more than a meal; it’s a means for people to bond, to shape memories, and to bridge differences.” Zapisocki said.
As I was wondering what I should eat next one of my new friends asked me: “Do you know why the residence was named Baker House?” I told him that I thought there was a bakery located here. “Because it is right next to the Baker mountain,” he answered. Another student heard the answer and walked up to the two of us, said that we were both wrong and explained Baker was the last name of the landowner.
There was a mini badminton court set up and people were tossing a little volleyball around. The games got people laughing and playing together, which helped them loosen up before our meal. After I finished eating, there were still people playing on the court.
As we were finishing our dishes, the staff brought out a lucky draw box. Since it was my first time at one of these events, I did not expect it at all. They started to pull out pieces of paper with names written on it one by one. All of us formed a circle, yelling, hoping that we would win. Then I realized that my name was not in the box because only those who had filled in a housing survey would have a chance to win these prizes, which was a disappointing lesson for me.
The event came to an end after two hours. We all helped the staff to pile the chairs up and said goodbye to others. We were all thankful for Zapisocki and all the other staff for giving us such a good time. I’d made many friends who I might have never had a chance to talk to before. As Zapisocki was leaving, she asked us if the iced tea made by her needed any changes. I’ll let you guess the answer: I had 5 cups.
