Multilingual conversation buzzes across the crowded patio at Elgin Beer Project one recent evening as locals and newcomers expanded their social and cultural horizons by talking.
BlaBla, a weekly, year-round informal language exchange, is open to anyone who walks in and takes an interest.
BlaBla brings together culturally diverse people of various ages to talk about their backgrounds, as well as provide a space for those wanting to improve language skills.
“It’s just a very diverse, eclectic group of mainly polyglots but they’re all conversing in English and they’re all conversing in all sorts of different topics,” says Steve Aplin, a regular participant. “It’s interesting to hear the similar stories but from different people, coming from different backgrounds, speaking different languages.”
Alex Neumann, the group’s facilitator, began hosting what became the Ottawa chapter of BlaBla several years ago. BlaBla is an international language exchange program with chapters in 52 countries. Neumann started the Ottawa chapter because he was looking for a group similar to one he attended in Montreal.
“It was actually the BlaBla international group that was looking for an organizer in the Ottawa area,” Neumann said. “I reached out to them when I saw their post … and here we are.”
“Beyond being a language exchange, it could be described as anything,” Neumann said. “Some people come here more to meet other open-minded individuals.”
Participants communicate through the Ottawa Social Exchange WhatsApp group, which has about 200 members. The online forum coordinates social events around and beyond the language exchange, including summer barbecues and meet-ups at cultural festivals.
During the summer, regular language exchanges happen on Tuesdays at 7 p.m. on the patio at Elgin Beer Project in Centretown, one of the city’s most diverse areas. During the winter, the group shifts to the near by Deacon Brodies at 247 Elgin St.
Unity in diversity
Neumann said be believes BlaBla brings in people from countless different backgrounds. He says the most common language groups aside from English are French and Spanish.
“Personally, I’ve met an incredible group of people over the past couple years,” he said. “This has just been a good place for people to meet. I mean, today we have some friends from (the) Czech Republic. We have some German-speaking friends, Ukrainian, Chinese, Japanese.”
Expanded worldviews
On top of promoting multiculturalism, many participants said the open-mindedness that BlaBla fosters is also what sets it apart from other social exchanges.
“You would be confronted with people that you would never maybe go and speak with if it weren’t for BlaBla,” said Richard Bekhazi, a participant who speaks English, French and Arabic. “Sometimes you need to talk to the other perspective.”
“People don’t go offending each other,” said Christianne Curry. She has been participating at BlaBla for three years and has learned some Tamil, Spanish and Arabic through exchanges.
“People are very good to each other,” Curry said. “It is very open-minded.”
Adrian Harasym, who has been attending Ottawa BlaBla events for two years, said he can speak 18 languages, including Czech, Japanese and Romanian. He carries a small card denoting these languages at BlaBla exchanges to help him remember them all.
Harasym said his multilingualism allows him to learn about and connect with people on a deeper level.
“When you speak to people in their language, they’re more open with you,” he said. “They tell you many things about their countries, their cultures, and it’s a very great learning experience.”
A sense of home
Neumann said although a lot of BlaBla is about embracing differences, it also fosters familiarity and a sense of belonging for Ottawa newcomers.
“It makes us feel like we’re hopefully doing something good by helping someone feel more involved, more connected to the city they now call home,” Neumann said.
“We encourage the newcomers,” said Anojan Sithamparappillai, a BlaBla participant of more than two years.
Sithamparappillai, who was born in Sri Lanka, said after moving to Canada he wanted to broaden his horizons.
“I wanted to change and meet everybody from every nation,” he said. “I still love my culture and background and who I am, but at this point I just want to have people from all over.”
“Life is about doing everything together with people from different backgrounds, different cultures. That’s the important part.”
