My First Tea with Strangers - Stanza Coffee

Image: teawithstrangers.com

Since we moved to San Francisco I've been trying to find a way to get out and meet new people. What I'm learning is that most of the people I've met have an interesting story, whether they've just moved here from [insert any place here] or have lived here for 20+ years.

I was lucky enough to catch a tweet that mentioned something called Tea with Strangers. What caught my attention was the idea of meeting people over a cup of coffee or tea as opposed to a beer in a bar. Sure, I like grabbing a beer and chatting, but sitting down with a cup of coffee or tea is a different experience, one that is probably more my style.

The idea for Tea with Strangers was started here in San Francisco and is currently operating in Princeton and Miami with plans to start in DC, Boston, NYC, LA, Chicago, UPenn, Portland, Seattle and Palo Alto. So if you're not based in San Francisco, you might still get your chance to grab a cup with some people you've never met.

I signed up for a local tea at Stanza Coffee (16th and Valencia, Mission), a local shop I've passed by but never stopped into.

There were six people including a facilitator who helped get the conversation rolling. We met out on the back patio, where we talked for two hours about who we are, where we're from, our parents, careers, hobbies, apartment living, hiking in San Francisco, vegetarian food...etc. What was interesting about this group was that we were all very different people, but four of us lived or grew up in the Northeast. Two of us have had the joy of driving on I-83.

I discovered a new hiking spot I want to try soon.

I learned about Emperor Norton.

It was a well-spent two hours of my afternoon, and I'd be happy to invest time into another tea time. The atmosphere was casual. It wasn't a job interview. It wasn't a work-promoted networking event. It was an easy way to meet new people that only costs a few dollars. If you like talking to strangers, this just might be for you.

Check Them Out: teawithstrangers.com