Conversations: The Good and The Bad

So the mail office was definitely fibbing to us. We received so many packages and letters. (I was the recipient of 3 of those items! ... and it made me pretty happy all day.) Kids were happy; staff were happy.

It's hard to be an introvert here. In the "real world," I need to be drawn out a little; I'm like a fish that needs that fluorescent bait dangled in front of her... but here, I wouldn't be able to talk to anyone if I didn't start a lot of the conversations. I know it's practicing life experience (and heck, I do have tons of moments where I'm crafty and pretty much trick everyone into thinking I'm an extrovert... I cheesily become proud of the Southerner in me during these moments), but it's just a bit forced here at camp. At lunch yesterday, I tried to start a conversation with one of the instructors here since he was sitting across from me (it's awkward and impolite NOT to talk to someone right in front of you). I asked tons of questions, and in a normal conversation, questions are then turned around to you. Nope. This conversation was completely one-sided, awkward, and short.

Me: Hi! I'm sorry, I don't think I know your name!
Him: I'm Bl.
Me: My name is Chelsea; nice to meet you.
[silence]
Me: So what classes do you teach here?
Him: Space Time Continuum.
Me: Oh, that's great. Do you like it?
Him: Yeah.
[silence]
[more silence]

Le sigh. I could have planted my face in my half-eaten Peanut Butter and Strawberry Rhubarb sandwich. How does one pick up a conversation when it's just dropped like that? Both Cs would get a kick out of this. Maybe he was just having an awkward day. Well, if there's another chance, I'll attempt conversation again. Trying to consciously exercise more grace and give people more chances since ooohh gossssh, I have my awkward moments, too.

But to cancel out the awkward conversation, I had a great one with another instructor. She's pretty nice and has her baby with her most times (other times baby is with her dad).

Me: Oh, I love your necklace [a gold icthus with a cross in it]!
Her: Thanks! I had it made when I got confirmed and Little E was baptized.
Me: That's wonderful! I have a silver one a lot like it... they're pretty rare to find.
Her: So where are you from?
[insert more back-and-forth questions and two-sided conversation]
Her: If you want to go to church with us on Sunday, you're more than welcome to come with us!
Me: Oh, that would be great!

That helped confirmed I'm not a complete conversational doof. It also made me think that technology really has stinted human interactions. There are probably a lot more awkward people now than say, 100+ years ago when people had to talk face-to-face to people to do business and make social house calls. There were no phones, IMs, or emails. People hand-delivered letters and left their cards for people to return with their own visits. There was no room for conversational awkwardness in 19th century society.

Again, just more proof I was born in the wrong century.

- Miss Chelsea :)

P.S. I'm questioning certain individuals on the whereabouts of Mumford. I haven't seen him for two days now. I think Miss E ate him. She looks suspicious. So does P. I will get to the bottom of this. Mumford is not one to spook out. :P