As part of my survey course, we have to conduct a survey in a group. 10 questions, 10 respondents. I picked the bus stop. People were quite willing to answer, til their bus got there, at which point I lost them. I only lost 4 out of 13. Yay for talking fast.
However, the final respondent was an attractive gentleman I noticed sitting in the area of a campus tearoom. I was just passing through, we did the eye contact thing, whatever, I went to the bus stop and did 4 surveys. Then I came back, like 10-15 minutes later, just to see if he was there. He was. I spent some time goofing around on the net (yay wireless), ignoring his existence, or at least pretending to. He seemed to return the favor. I decided “what the hell” and went over and gave my patented perky routine.
“Excuse me, are you a student?”
“Yes.” He wasn’t put off, good.
“I’m taking a survey course, and for this course, we have to conduct a survey, could I have a minute of your time?”
“Sure, why don’t you take a seat?” He cleared his stuff on the bench next to him. Score!
We ran through the survey pretty quickly. I thanked him. And then we started talking.
It turns out he lives nearby and alone. He’s been a vegetarian for several years, and he gets around by bike. He’s an RN going for his landscape architecture degree, nearly done. I put my sexuality out there, in my usual style (mentioned the berkeley free clinic gay men’s health collective and the upcoming qgpa event, as well as my past “leadership” experience with cmuOUT). He didn’t respond in kind, but he did smile alot. We talked about the overlap between our programs (3 or 4 people, one of whom I know), financing grad school, etc.
I had a few more surveys to complete, so I left to catch my bus, and gave him my card. I said we should grab tea sometime, he made interested affirming noises.
Even without that particular element, I kinda enjoyed giving the survey. I seem to enjoy interacting with strangers in a structured way. There’s definitely more extrovert in me than anyone who knew me as a teen would have guessed.
Sounds Like A good Way to (AT LEAST) meet men…I Envy You And your Collegiate Ways…
Closet extroverts! *grins* Those people who are thought to be quiet but can be really outgoing when circumstances are right.
Neatly balanced by the outgoing people who are shyer than they let on.
You remind me of my classmate Doug, who has developed quite a thing for the German informant his group is using for Syntax class. Yay for lusting after the subjects of your research!
The informant my group is using is too skinny for my tastes. Pout.
You flirt!
yes, score!
go you!