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I'm a complete introvert, but this is one of my favorite pastimes. Just two strangers with no baggage. My close friend once joked that I attract random people f
by distantaidenn 5y ago
I'm a complete introvert, but this is one of my favorite pastimes. Just two strangers with no baggage. My close friend once joked that I attract random people for some reason, and I sometimes feel that she is right.
I'm pretty quiet, and reserved, but for some reason I always end up meeting people during my night walks and have had all manner of conversations, offers, and interactions. I think some people just need someone to talk to that won't judge them.
My recipe is the following: grab a drink from the nearest convenience store (ideally alcoholic), and set out into the night towards the busiest area you can find, and just watch the hustle and bustle.
Just a sample of the adventures I've had: spending a couple hours wandering the streets of Tokyo with a couple Danish tourists during their last night in the city.
Talking for a few hours in a park with an off-duty US military servicemen, after which he suggested we start running drugs from Mexico across the border -- no thank you.
However, one of the most interesting, jarring, and thought provoking interactions I had was with a young man, of obvious African descent. This took place in Bangkok. I was out on one of my night walks, and as usual stopped by a convenience store to grab a drink. I noticed the young man, sitting on the curb, if I recall correctly, having a smoke.
At the time, I was working in Bangkok as an American on a relatively cushy salary and high on life. So I walk over and strike up a conversation, expecting to hear about the adventures that led this gentleman to Thailand. So we chat for a bit, and I tell him about life in Thailand and working as an expat. I then ask him, "So what brought you out here?" He gave me a one word response, that made me realize how privileged I was. That word and his answer was, "war".
He went one to explain that his country undergoing some internal conflict, and he had fled to find a better life. Here I was, a relatively happy and well-paid American -- I really had no response other than listening to his story. We sat there a bit longer just talking about life -- two people from vastly different experiences, sitting on a convenience store curb and enjoying a chat and a drink.
- hannob 5y ago> I'm a complete introvert No offense, but are you sure? Because the rest of your text sounds like you are absolutely not.
- beebeepka 5y agoAnd it was this encounter that made them realize they're privileged, even though it must've been pretty obvious for all sorts of reasons, not to mention living in one of poorest countries in the world as an US "expat". Still thought, must be quite a story in some circles. In any case, wandering the busy streets late at night with a drink is a recepy for meeting new people. That is certainly true
- hbarka 5y agoSadly, nowadays I would think twice about wandering streets late at night in San Francisco.
- beebeepka 5y agoHow about Detroit? That and New York are the only places I want to visit if I ever find the time to cross the Atlantic
- distantaidenn 5y agoWell, I'm OP, and as fate would have it, I'm actually from Detroit (born and raised). If you do go, please make sure you have a tour guide. Downtown is safe enough, but if you decide to see the "real" city, you should know where you are going before you go there. Edit: Just realized you made a comment earlier. Well, as we are discussing now -- I grew up in a low income area in inner-city Detroit and I am a person of color. I never really considered myself as privileged. It's all about perspective.
- ohmahjong 5y agoMy layman's understanding of introversion vs extroversion is with regards to how people feel energized. The commenter above might really enjoy talking to strangers, but it might be exhausting and require some alone time to recharge. Separately, one-on-one conversations fit well with the "introvert" label, as opposed to socialising more in a group setting.
- huachimingo 5y agoI did something similar to this at day in high school (without the drink) while at the bus stop. The problem was that every time I felt that I was impersonating a new character, and all that broke the fun of talking/joking to random people once I met them again by accident. Its true that while at the public bus (long travel time) you can have those same conversations, but beware the fake friends or what do you want from the relationship. Dont do it with an angry man, please dont.