The Happy Pod: Inviting strangers round for dinner

**Holly Gibbs** (0:00)
This is the HappyPod from the BBC World Service. I'm Holly Gibbs, and in this edition, the couple who invited strangers round for dinner.

**Vik Parishah** (0:15)
So now we have four friends, but that's a good feeling. It's a beautiful feeling, yeah.

**Nidhi Pal** (0:19)
I feel that I belong here now, which is what I was looking for.

**Vik Parishah** (0:22)
I'm very greedy. I want to have the whole world, my friend.

**Holly Gibbs** (0:25)
How one father has helped his blind son enjoy the World Cup. Plus, a cake lover's dream come true.

**Elisa Sunga** (0:43)
So I always think of cake picnic as a moment to make magic in a world that needs it. So thank you all for making that dream come true today.

**Holly Gibbs** (0:54)
A chance encounter that gave a listener the opportunity to thank the teacher who changed his life. And?

**Don Rutledge** (1:02)
I've had a lot of people say that it brings them a lot of joy. I've had kids tell me like they stop by every single day.

**Holly Gibbs** (1:09)
A payphone with a difference.
Making friends when you move to a new place can be difficult, but one couple who relocated from India to Northern Ireland came up with an unusual way to meet new people and create lasting connections. Nidhi Pal and Vik Parishar decided to invite strangers to their house for dinner. Those who wanted to join them had to fill out an online form and the couple chose groups of 10 people who they thought would mix well. Now the couple say they have 60 new friends. Olivia Copeland joined them at their home as they prepared for their sixth dinner party, cooking and listening to relaxing music.

**Nidhi Pal** (1:52)
You move into a new country and you leave your comfort, your friends, your family behind. Someone you've known for years and years.
As a mature adult, it becomes even more difficult to make friends. Then I suddenly realized that, okay, so we have no friends. We have no social life here. I don't know how to actually make friends because how do you walk up to someone and say, I want to be friends with you? It's not easy. So I came up with this idea that this is what we used to do back home in India as well.

**Vik Parishah** (2:26)
We were just two of us. You should have a social life because as a human, we are social animals. So we didn't have friends, just a couple of friends. It's very difficult to go out and just meet people and make friends.
In a different country where we don't know their culture, how do we have to approach them?
They don't speak the same language. It's a different language. So we thought of opening our door. We started as like for friends. Everyone was like praising and they kind of like pushed us to do more.

**Nidhi Pal** (3:00)
People like the idea and they felt that it started filling in the form. And I noticed that, okay, so it's not just us who are feeling that.
There are a lot of people who are open to this idea. And here we are on our sixth supper. And I cannot be more proud and grateful.

**SPEAKER_6** (3:19)
How has life changed for you six months later?

**Vik Parishah** (3:23)
You know that when you go outside, there might be someone you know. So it's a good feeling. That's why we started this, no? To have friends now, I think we have accomplished that.
So that's a good feeling. It's a beautiful feeling, yeah.

**Nidhi Pal** (3:37)
It has completely changed. I would say six months ago, I knew nobody here. I feel that I connect better. I have someone I can call in need, or when I'm happy, when I'm sad.
I feel that I belong here now, which is what I was looking for.

**SPEAKER_6** (3:56)
Does it still feel a little bit nerve-wracking, even the sixth time, inviting new people, complete strangers to your home?

**Nidhi Pal** (4:03)
Absolutely, because you're opening your personal space to someone. You have never seen them.
You are going by with what they fill in the form, and you're going with your gut. We've been very fortunate. We've made a lot of friends during this tradition. But yes, it is nerve-wracking.

**SPEAKER_7** (4:21)
My hands are like shaking right now as well.

**SPEAKER_6** (4:25)
Some of the people that you've invited tonight are also new to Belfast. How do you hope that they feel after spending time here this evening?

**Nidhi Pal** (4:36)
I hope they feel at home. That is the only thing that I want them to feel. I hope they feel that they belong here, and I hope that I'm able to show the real Belfast. It is beautiful, and I hope it reminds them of home.