It was 7th grade all over again.
The popular people in the center, chatting and giggling amongst themselves, and me, off to the side with a book, trying to look busy, like I didn't care that no one tried to include me in conversation. Only this time, I wasn't in grade school. And I didn't have a book. I had my cell phone, so I texted people in a vain attempt to look preoccupied, and not as awkward as I felt. But I think that only made it worse. So I left.
9th grade. High school. New girl, in a new school, new country. (Ok, technically Canada is not a country.) Two friendly girls came up to me and introduced themselves. Broke the ice. I was thankful for that, cuz I'm not good at that.
I have been told that on first impressions I seem a bit aloof and snobby. I know, right? Here's the thing: if you are by nature a shy person, or not so quick to be social in a new situation, who's responsibility is it to introduce themselves?
It works both ways: if you can accuse me of being anti-social, I can accuse you of ignoring me and being unfriendly.
I'm not really the kind of person who clings to her friends and can't go anywhere without them. (Example: the bathroom.) But still, it is nice to have someone familiar with you when meeting new people.
Take a lesson: if you are ever at a social event and you see people off to the side, be the one to go over and say hi. They are probably standing there thinking, 'can I look at my watch again? How many times have I done that already? Is it rude to leave the room and make believe I have a phone call?' They want to feel as comfortable as you do.
You just summed up my feelings in social settings.
ReplyDeleteEveryone's always waiting for the other person to make the first move.
That's why no one moves.
cuz it has no army and barely any citizens. and they say weird words like oot and aboot.
ReplyDeletebarely any citizens??
ReplyDeletethey have over 34 million people, which puts them in the top 40 countries, out of 230 or so.
Israel has less than 8 million- does that mean you don't consider them a country?
why are you rooting for canada?
ReplyDeleteI meant it in jest. yes canada is a country. I spent 4 years there. i will not revisit that same old argument again.
Canada is America's HAT
ReplyDeleteAnd New Zealand is Australia's wool factory. I once showed up at a shabbaton where I knew one person (5 others couldn't make it @ the last minute). For 2 days. I faked a migraine and slept through most of it :)
ReplyDeleteBut yknow what, I met some new people, so introduce yourself first. Better they should have nothing to say against you.