Food for the Soul: Finding Community through Food as a Pittsburgh Transplant

 

    My first night in Pittsburgh, sitting in an empty apartment surrounded by boxes, my partner and I ate homemade pizza and a Caesar salad, made for us by my sister to welcome us to the city. I didn’t know it at the time, but food would become the catalyst for the formation and growth of many of my friendships in Pittsburgh.

    As our GC cohort of 11 got to know one another (and other friends from the Human Genetics department!), food was central to our larger gatherings from the beginning. We were welcomed to the city early in the semester by our second-year GC friends with a picnic in Mellen Park, and we ventured out to try new restaurants as a way to get to know the city and each other. As a new school year in an unfamiliar city loomed on the horizon, these connections made the transition a little less intimidating.

    Our food-related gatherings have only grown in magnitude since then. In November, we gathered for a truly formidable Friendsgiving feast – complete with a 25-pound turkey, side dishes galore, and pies, trifles, and tarts to finish. December brought on a cookie exchange party, with everyone bringing a batch of their favorite cookies to share and a large tin to swap cookies with friends. In the cold of winter and the stressfulness of final exams, these meetups were a much-needed brain break and source of whimsy (and sugar!). Each time we gather with each other to enjoy a meal, I am reminded that food can be a form of self-care – that sharing food nourishes not only our bodies, but also our emotional health. As we eat, we get to know one another better, sharing jokes, stories, and memories. 

                  

                  Friends at Friendsgiving           Cookies, ready to be exchanged

The connections I have made over these meals have added richness and joy to my life here in Pittsburgh, and for the rest of my post, I wanted to share some ways to start building a community that will nourish you, both physically and emotionally. So, without further ado, some ideas for building fellowship around food as you navigate a new city:

1. Host a dinner party

Hosting a dinner party doesn’t have to be overwhelming! Make a Partiful invite, ask new classmates to bring a dish to share, and encourage them to add to the guest list, and I promise you will be pleasantly surprised by the amount of new friends (and food) that show up. 

2. Rally a group to try a restaurant you’re curious about

I have found some of my favorite restaurants in Pittsburgh this way! If you’re already planning to head to check out a new place yourself, go one step further and send out a quick text and invite friends to come along.  

3. Volunteer at a local organization

Get involved at organizations like Community Kitchen or Ronald McDonald House, where you can volunteer alone or as part of a group to help prepare a hot meal, or at the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, which has a number of opportunities available. This is a great way to both meet new people, give back to your greater community, and establish a regular volunteering commitment, if you’re interested in doing so.

4. If it’s nice outside, have a picnic in a local park

This is a great way to pair food with enjoying one of Pittsburgh’s beautiful parks – take advantage of the great weather and bring a blanket, a good book or a frisbee, and a picnic basket full of goodies to a park like Schenley, Frick, or Mellon to get out and see a little more of the community. Encourage friends to drop by while you’re there, or organize an impromptu game of ultimate frisbee or soccer.

5. Try out a food-related festival

To get to know the city of Pittsburgh better, why not try out one of its many food festivals? Local favorites like Picklesburgh and Pierogi Festival bring the city together, showcasing its quirky personality, some of its best and favorite foods, and often offer the bonus of live music and local art vendors to peruse, too. 

6. Keep an eye out for neighborhood gatherings

This is a tip that I have learned from living in my specific neighborhood in Pittsburgh, Friendship. The week that my partner and I moved into our apartment, we noticed signs posted for a block party and decided to attend. While enjoying a meal of burgers and hotdogs, we got to meet some of our neighbors. Since then, we have also attended our neighborhood Friendsgiving and cookie exchange, and always keep an eye out for the next neighborhood gathering. Getting to know our immediate neighbors means that our walks down the street are filled with more familiar faces and has expanded our sense of community in Pittsburgh beyond work and school.

    My parting advice to anyone looking to find friends in a new city? Go where the food is – community will always be close by. I hope this column has given you some practical advice for taking your first steps towards new meals, new recipes, and new friends. Happy eating!

Steph’s Grad School Survival Guide: Working (Full Time)

 
Most people call me crazy, but I am balancing a full time job while in my first year in the genetic counseling program at Pitt. It’s been a lot, but the good news is I am living proof that it can be done! I won’t lie, it’s hard, can be chaotic, and some days I am solely powered by caffeine and sheer willpower. In my experience so far, it has been totally worth every late night and early morning. Full disclosure, I am working as a GCA and have been in my position for almost 4 years. I am extremely fortunate to work with amazing genetic counselors and other staff who fully support my decision to work and go to school. For me, choosing to work while in school was a no-brainer, but it has not been easy.  It stretches your time, your energy, and a lot of your sanity, but it has also been rewarding in ways I did not expect. My survival guide boils down to three things: time management, self-care, and a planner that will become your second brain.

1. Time Management Isn’t Optional… It’s Survival

When you’re working 40 up to hours a week and tackling grad-level coursework, time becomes your most valuable currency. You can’t afford to “wing it.”
A few strategies that saved me:

• Time Boundaries: Assign specific hours for work you and school you and stick to it. Having clear boundaries helps me to not feel overwhelmed. When I am at work, I try not to focus on school and vice versa. You also need to build in dedicated hours outside of work or class for YOU. Use that time for errands, fun, and rest.

• Use Every Spare Moment: Those 20 minutes between work or before class add up. I use that time to tackle quick tasks like reviewing notes, checking emails, or even just preparing for the next day or week ahead.

The goal is to make every moment of the day intentional.

2. Self-Care Is Non-Negotiable

When life gets busy, self-care is usually the first thing to go. Ironically, it’s the one thing that keeps you functioning. When I met with Jodie right before starting my first semester, the first thing she asked me when I told her I would be working full time was what my plan was for self-care. Luckily, I have found that self-care doesn’t have to be elaborate:

• Walking from work to class instead of taking the bus helps me to clear my head

• Having a consistent sleep schedule

• Saying “no” to optional commitments (it’s ok if you just want to lay on the couch for a night!)

• Eating real meals instead of surviving on caffeine and adrenaline (which I will admit I’m working to get better at this – shoutout to my wonderful husband for making sure I stay fed!)

• Get the sweet treat!

Burnout is real, and when it hits you, it comes without warning. Protect your peace.

3. A Good Planner Will Save Your Life

This truly is the secret weapon. For me, if I don’t write it down, it’s not happening. Having a planner makes sure I never miss an assignment or deadline. A planner also helps me feel organized, which reduces stress. I use my planner to:

• Track weekly homework deadlines

• Plan ahead for heavy weeks

• Plan time with friends or for something fun!

The key is consistency. If it’s not written down, it doesn’t exist.
Working full time while going to grad school full time is intense, but it’s also been incredibly empowering once I found my rhythm. I’ve learned to prioritize, communicate, and manage my energy, all skills that will make me a stronger genetic counselor!