January 22, 2025

Building Community, Brick by Brick

Today we got to meet our organization–some of us, for the second time. For Team Rise Bionics, we were fortunate to make some introductions the first week in India. In today’s meeting, our goal was to determine deliverables, make more detailed introductions, and dive deeper into our GCIL project.

Arun began the meeting by sharing a list of grand challenges that he and his team brainstormed before the meeting. However, it was clear that he was most passionate about the idea of community. This prompted me to reflect on what it means to have a community. How do you find a community, especially in a place that feels unfamiliar?

Through daily observations, I find myself surprised by how quickly I’ve adapted to my new life in India. The first steps I’ve taken are to establish a routine and seek out activities that mirror what I would do back in Seattle.
Every day, I work to build my community brick by brick. Whether it’s small interactions with my classmates and team—like bonding over old (or not so old) prom pictures—or my attempted regular visits to a local yoga studio. Even more important is seeing the barista over at Coffee Chemistry whenever I get a chance because he has perfect espresso pulls and makes the perfect cortado.

One thing that stands out to me is the reliance on personal networks and recommendations. These connections create a sense of interconnectedness and trust; relationships that are a part of daily life. People here are often willing to sit and have a conversation with you and help you build a local network of resources, where many of us are familiar with the “Seattle Freeze” —the tendency for interactions to feel distant and forced.
Like the community Rise Bionics is looking to build, I also met face the challenge on building strong enough community in Bangalore that even when I leave, I’ll maintain those connections across the globe.

By,
Raeanna