I met a bunch of strangers from the Internet for tea, and it wasn't weird

It’s not uncommon for me to power through work, cram in a run and cook dinner before realizing I haven’t really connected with anyone that day.

I'm up to date with my Instagram feed and exchange banter with coworkers in between meetings, but some days I look back on the conversations I've had throughout the day and wish for something a bit more substantial. 

SEE ALSO: Finding a friend through Bumble BFF might sound awkward, but it's not

The truth is, I’m often too busy to spend time getting to know more people. But I want to change that.

A close friend of mine who lives in Chicago recently told me about Tea With Strangers, a website founded by San Francisco-based Ankit Shah in May 2014. Tea with Strangers hosts two-hour meetups at cafes in 15 cities in the U.S. and one in Nairobi (soon to be 25 total), including Boston, New York and Seattle in the U.S. Participants can discuss anything from politics to romance for the duration. The conversation is led by a volunteer host, who also organizes the event.

Original image has been replaced. Credit: Mashable

So far, Tea With Strangers has organized more than 1,500 tea times for 6000 people. Shah himself has met with more than 1,000 members. 

My time for tea

While meeting up with a bunch of random people to talk about life seems odd, I figured it couldn’t be much different than any other networking event. But rather than thinking about my career, my goal was to make a real connection.  

I signed up, and a few days later, made my way downtown to meet some strangers at Housing Works Bookstore Cafe in Manhattan. But my excitement was quickly cut short when I arrived to learn the event had been cancelled by my host (I hadn't checked email in the 20 or so minutes it took me to get there). Because Tea With Strangers usually has a group of about 5 or 6 people, there’s usually not much need to coordinate with venues. But in this case, another event was going on and we were unable to hold it there.  I left disappointed, but decided I would give it another go.

"It can be hard to have meaningful conversations with people. Tea With Strangers allows for that."

So a week later, I tried again and things went on without a hitch. We talked about many topics: our jobs and favorite podcasts, but also views about the upcoming election and how to build a community in a place as big as New York.

"I've been looking for more communities in New York," Nicole Kelner, a 22-year-old new to the city, told Mashable following the event. "It can be hard to have meaningful conversations with people. Tea With Strangers allows for that."

"I didn't have a specific agenda," Kelner says. "I just enjoy great conversation."

Kelner says she plans to attend more tea times in the future and hopes to keep up with some of the other participants.

After the two hours were up, I genuinely felt like I connected with several of the participants. 

Nicole and I exchanged numbers with each other and another participant, and we agreed to all meet up in the future.

This wasn't the first time I've tried to meet new friends online. I previously checked out Bumble BFF, which connects you to potential friends in your area. But what sets Tea With Strangers apart -- besides the group atmosphere -- is the set amount of time everyone spent sitting, talking and listening. There was no awkward time to decide whether or not to order another drink. With Tea With Strangers, the designated two hour time frame really allowed everyone to relax and enjoy the experience.

For a closer look at my experience, check out the video above.

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