Socialization of Orphans

            "When I was a child I played by myself in a corner of the schoolyard all alone and cried out "I am an orphan"" (Packer 121). In most cases an orphan has lived a very hard and isolated life, they are rejected from the intended everlasting community of family, and it affects them for the rest of their lives. As result of the isolation and rejection that orphans tend to receive at a young age, they are unable to develop any socialization, and therefore feel unworthy of receiving acceptance from anyone. This is because "early social isolation can have profound consequences on different social behavior due to alterations in brain structures or gene expressions" (Jasmina Kercmar). From an early age, the child is on their own, and since "the most fertile time of socialization is usually the early stages of life during which the individuals develop the skills and knowledge and learn the roles necessary to function within their culture and social environment", when acceptance is given to them, they are unsure of how to react so they shut down, reverting to the solidarity that they are familiar with ("Communities"). This example of social isolation illustrates Dina's life and the way that she views the idea of community in Z.Z. Packer's short story "Drinking Coffee Elsewhere", from Drinking Coffee Elsewhere. .
             In the story, Dina struggles with opening up to people and she closes herself off to prevent the chance of being rejected. She chooses to not affiliate with anyone else and instead takes on a similar level of socialization seen among orphans; she isolates herself from any and every potential relationship. However Dina makes a progression throughout the story, she temporarily pushes through her trust issues and for a short time embraces a small community with another person. But the moment she begins to feel uncomfortable and vulnerable, she retracts and rejects the community that Heidi offers.