Rainbow House

It all started a few weeks ago. The first day of volunteering at the bar was somewhat stressful. My friends and I—who I had taken that shift with—tried to get by with the limited knowledge we had about the hospitality industry. It’s true that we learned very quickly since before starting the volunteer program, we were shown how everything worked at the bar.

The subsequent shifts were simpler. We already knew how everything worked. We would come in around 5:45 p.m., start bringing the tables and chairs out onto the terrace, where we would place the ashtrays, and then our shift would begin. Throughout the afternoon, some customers would come in: we would serve beer, make cocktails, play music as requested, was the cutlery…The bar usually started to fill up around 9 or 10 p.m. Groups of friends would come in and order something to drink. In general, all the customers were very friendly and didn’t mind the fact that we only spoke English. A very good vibe overall. That’s how we spent the next few months, splitting shifts over six weeks.

I really enjoyed the experience, both professionally and personally. On a professional level, it made me realize what it’s like to work in the hospitality industry and what it entails—it’s not as easy as it seems. On a personal level, I found it a very enriching experience, as I realized that many people turn to this association as a safe space where they can express themselves freely.

In fact, I noticed that many customers came back to the bar again. That’s why I think the bar more than fulfills its goal: to create a safe place for everyone.

I remember a couple of funny experiences that caught my attention. A young man in his 30s asked us to charge his phone at the bar—of course, we did. Minutes later, he came out onto the street and spent the entire afternoon dancing in front of the bar. It was hilarious! What surprised and pleased me the most was that no one gave him dirty looks or judged him—just good vibes.

I was also struck by another somewhat funny experience. During a different shift, an older man asked us for a beer with vodka. With vodka! I’d never heard of that before, but we served it to him anyway, and he left very happy.

Another anecdote my friend Sara and I experienced with another coworker was one day around 11 p.m.—when we were already tired of working—a group of very nice friends came over and started dancing to Indian music. I’d never heard that kind of music before, nor had I ever seen people dance to it! I definitely liked it. I think it’s also an enriching experience, as it opens your mind and allows you to discover new worlds and cultures. Highly recommended!

A gratifying experience we had during our first shifts involved a middle-aged woman who arrived around 9 p.m. She came into the bar, sat down, and ordered a drink. We served her but asked if she was okay. She seemed very drunk and very sad. She didn’t answer us much and fell asleep at times. We still tried to engage her in conversation. What struck me was that everyone was concerned about her. They saw she was feeling unwell and asked her how she was, to cheer up, and what was wrong. An hour later, she went home. I liked the reaction of the people who watched her: they stopped, asked her what was wrong, and tried to make her feel better. In general, the bar environment is filled with kind and very empathetic people, eager to help others if they needed it, and I observed that in this situation.