Olivia Tomlinson talks about the importance of meeting new people
During our conversation with HNC’s newest, Copenhagen-based, research assistant Olivia, we also chatted about her research and why being bad at hobbies can be liberating.
How did you find out about Hey Neighbour?
I took Dr. Megan Winters‘ class at SFU where she had put out an ad looking for research assistants to hand out paper surveys, so I did that! These surveys asked a range of questions to residents about their social life, personal characteristics, thoughts on their building, etc. After the surveys, I offered to do her data analysis. I really liked the survey work because it was active and I was able to engage with a population I hadn’t had a lot of interaction with. For some survey participants, our interactions were the most significant social engagement they’d have all day, so it was an opportunity to have a real human connection. That felt special! I still think about some of the people I interviewed.
I remember my first job as a cashier at Safeway, I would interact with older adults as they came through with their groceries. They were always so chatty, and, at first, I couldn’t understand why. My mom reminded me that I might’ve been the only person they interacted with all day. That shifted my perspective.
What is your role with the project?
I’m working under Dr. Winters’ supervision, conducting quantitative data analysis. This analysis aims to understand the predictors of what we call “pro-social” or “pro-neighbouring” behaviours in a low-income, high-density context. In other words, we wanted to look at what factors make a resident more likely to engage in more social behaviours, such as chatting with their neighbours. We’ve input all of the paper survey data and now we’re in full-on data analysis mode. This is my first “big girl job” after graduating, and my first in quantitative analysis. I’ve been idolizing data analysis and now, I’m doing it! While it’s been a learning experience, it’s one that I’m enjoying a lot.
What does it mean for you to be engaged in this work?
It might sound cliché, but I have a strong desire to help people – this desire drives much of what I do in my life. It feels meaningful to be a part of a project that’s directly involved in learning about and helping an underserved community. This is the work I want to do more of!
I’ve found that this work extends beyond my job. While I was in Vancouver, I had the privilege of volunteering with the Salvation Army; I worked in the kitchen making and serving food and, more recently, processing food deliveries. We also started running a free supermarket with grocery deliveries from various grocery stores. As part of this initiative, grocers would send us their food and we would give it out for free. My Salvation Army community became really treasured and I still talk to the people I worked with!
People who are unhoused or who have substance use issues have become a big part of my life, so I’m passionate about elevating their needs and voices. I’ve had friends who have gotten into heavy drug use and it’s hard to see how they get left behind.
How do you maintain your mental wellbeing through this work?
It can be overwhelming. I get worried and stay awake when I haven’t heard from the people I’ve been in contact with for a while. But, I journal, exercise, and meditate, which helps! For me, my faith is super important, it’s like a meditation on its own. It keeps me grounded and prevents me from getting too into my own head.
You majored in health sciences and international studies: what’s the connection?
You’d think they’d be different but they actually complement each other well. My interest in health sciences crosses into population health, things like how geopolitical events influence the climate of a country and how that trickles down into population health determinants. I also like to keep tabs on what’s happening around the world, so the international studies component was a natural fit.
Where do you think your interest in global events comes from?
My parents! It’s very normal for us to have dinner table conversations about whatever geopolitical stuff is happening in the world. They’re very plugged-in people. I don’t think they deliberately raised us to be interested in these kinds of topics, it was more that they expressed their interests and we absorbed it. What I appreciate is that not everyone in my family agrees about everything all the time; we have somewhat different political views, but we’re able to talk about them respectfully. I wish this was more normal!
You live in a different country now!
Yes! I’m in Copenhagen, Denmark. It’s a lot of firsts: first time moving away from home, moving to another country, and applying for a visa. I’m really jumping in with both feet! But I love to move around, so it’s exciting.
Growing up, we travelled quite a bit. My parents are from South Africa, so we’d travel back there to see family. I’ve been to much of Western Europe and last year was my first time going to Eastern Europe. Bulgaria was super interesting. I also spent a lot of time in Greece, there I made close friendships with people living in eastern Greece, near Turkey.
What’s it like to have an international network of friends?
It makes the world feel a bit smaller, in a good way. Like family, spread all over the place. When I travel, I try to stay open to meeting new people. During my first visit to Greece, I participated in a WorkAway program and randomly met another girl staying in the same place. She then introduced me to a whole community of travellers in the area.
I learned through her that Greece has its own culture, full of people from all walks of life: not just tourists, but itinerant labourers, unhoused folks, and many more. I felt privileged to get to know this particular group and became friends with many of them. One of my fondest memories is making friends with a young man who educated me about the issues and struggles of unhoused folks (being unhoused himself). It was one of the nicest and most interesting days I’ve lived in my life!
What are some things that have surprised you about your experience living in Denmark so far?
There is a lot more trust between strangers in Denmark. People can leave their things unattended and parents will even leave their kids outside to go into a grocery store! Canada is a very safe country, but experiencing this level of trust is not something I’m used to.
Since working with Hey Neighbour, I’ve become more aware of things like urban planning, public transit systems, and how cities are connected. Interestingly, in Copenhagen and within Sealand more generally, public transit is amazing. (editor’s note: Sealand, or Sjælland, is Denmark’s native name) But in the other parts of the country, like Fyn and Jutland, it’s more car-dependent and passenger rail routes have shrunk over time. I thought there were trains everywhere, so that was a really big shock for me.
On the other hand, the parks here are really nice and have such interesting designs. To me, the major parks, like Frederiksberg Have, feel like rooms. Once you’re in the middle of it, you forget you’re in the city. They’re so calming and serene!
You love fibre crafts!
Mostly it’s crochet at the moment, but I do enjoy sewing and making my own clothes! I love to make things. All the ladies in my family have been sewing, crocheting, and knitting forever. I’ve become obsessed with crochet! It’s very relaxing and takes you out of your brain. It’s also rewarding! I’m quite short and it’s hard to find clothes that fit, so I make clothes that fit me. (editor’s note: the skirt Olivia is wearing in the feature image for this article was handmade by her!)
When I was younger, I made a tailored shirt with a very loud print that was so horrible, but I was proud of it. I think it’s more enjoyable to do things with no expectation of them being “good.” If you take away that pressure, you have more fun.
