Global Q&A: ‘Is there friendship between neighbors where you live?’

Ystad, Sweden. Hanna Palm, 23, Preschool Teacher: Yes, absolutely, there is friendship between us neighbors. We help each other when in need, for example with the post, water the flowers, and support each other with different things, and drink some coffee, or tea together—that’s very nice.

Across the globe, friendships prosper in some communities while others live with indifference, and some live in a hostile environment. This is what Epoch Times reporters from areas such as Sweden to Chile discovered when they asked locals,

“Is there friendship between neighbors where you live?”

 

Ystad, Sweden: Hanna Palm, 23, Preschool Teacher: Yes, absolutely, there is friendship between us neighbors. We help each other when in need, for example with the post, water the flowers, and support each other with different things, and drink some coffee, or tea together—that's very nice.

 

Lima, Perú: Alfonso Torres, 82, Printing Businessman: There is friendship between neighbors—we always talk, have social gatherings. There are also neighbors who do not meet, but very few. We also do activities; we have created a social club; even though it is not as active as it used to be due to our president's illness, and we haven't held any elections. It really was much more when the organization [was active], the City has abandoned its parks.

 

Buenos Aires, Argentina: Rubén Campos, 44, Building Manager: Friendships amongst neighbors doesn't exist, but a good neighborhood does—that's different. I have lived here for 22 years and I speak of a good neighborhood, because there is solidarity amongst residents, good manners, friendliness, which is necessary to live together.

 

Zaragoza, Spain: Francisco Lazaro, 81, Retired: Things have changed, there used to be a relationship amongst neighbors. When New Year's Eve arrived the entire neighborhood would get together, now it's not like that anymore. Nowadays, the relationship I have with my neighbors is polite—we greet each other, and it's okay to not know anything personal about each other.

 

Puerto Montt, Chile: Delia X Díaz, 44, Sales Executive: I have noticed with a bit of pity, I would say, that more than friendship there is a type of indifference. It's more of a formality, fraternity like the one where there was a concern [or] an interest for what is happening to their neighbor, which is what we would call friendship.

 

Dubai, United Arab Emirates: Erica Aduh, 22, University Student: The residential communities in Dubai present a great opportunity for neighbors to make friends and socialize. Where I live in the springs we have a nearby park and swimming pool where people have the opportunity to get together. On my street of ten to fifteen houses, I actually only really know one of my neighbors. I think people in Dubai should begin to make a habit out of getting to know their neighbors and developing a community. We should feel able to walk up to someone's house on our street to just hang out, and watch a movie, or cook! We aren't quite there yet, but I think it's definitely possible to make this happen. Courtesy of Erica Aduh

 

Look for the Global Q&A column every week. Epoch Times correspondents interview people around the world to learn about their lives and perspectives on local and global realities. Next week’s global question, “Is nuclear war a concern of the past or do you feel it could really happen?”