Oh sweet! I got someone!
How long have you been waiting?
Oh probably like half hour
Daaang, that's rough. Glad you're a patient one. What's your superpower?
Hmm well I'd have to say super observation. How about you?
Possibly never-ending questions. What exactly is super observation? Are we talking about Shawn Spencer or Sherlock type thing?
Hahaha that definitely keeps life interesting. We're talking Detective Daffy Duck.
Detective Daffy Duck, huh? That's great! Is this super observation power always active, or just in certain situations?
Oh, all the time. Especially in social situations. Have you always been an inquisitive person?
That's probably when it comes in the most handy. Most people don't pay any attention during social situations because they are too busy trying to say what they have to say. Yeah, I think I've always been this way. I've just always liked learning new things. And hate hearing myself talk too much.
Word, I tend to talk too much. Body language is super important and I feel like it's important to give people the same courtesies I appreciate. Since you can't hear yourself here, what are some of the insights you've gleaned from your inquisitions?
I think the most important thing I've learned is that everyone knows something I don't. With your observations, you've probably picked up a lot of social subtleties, right? What're some of the most interesting things you've ever observed in social situations? And have you ever observed anything that changed your own behavior?
I feel like that's an important realization because it helps me listen. Knowing that there's some aspect of life that someone else has that I don't humbling I pick up on peoples comfort levels quickly I'm an interpersonal person and I've become less so with those I observe are more reserved. Sometimes more so with people I feel are hiding their desire for human contact
That's interesting! So you adapt to meet the comfort level of the person you are interacting with?
In a nutshell, yes. How about you? Do you have certain questions you like to ask people when meeting them for the first time?
That's phenomenal. I wish more people were like that. My wife is an extremely introverted person and sometimes people don't show any respect for that at all. It makes her really uncomfortable in social situations. I mostly like to ask about what people are interested in. That's when I get the most engaging, energetic responses. And usually when I learn the most.
I find that interesting because I feel like a lot of people take kindness (courtesy) as flirting which gets misconstrued, especially from married women who are confident and friendly because they no longer have the need to impress everyone all the time Just my personal opinion
I agree with you. People are too quick to jump to conclusions.
No doubt, no doubt. Where are you from, if you don't mind me asking?
For example, my sister is one of the nicest people on the planet, but people are always assuming way too much about that. I'm from Idaho. Grew up in a small town in the American Tundra.
Oh yeah for sure, I get that a lot too. I've had many a conversation about that with friends. It's really frustrating because people treat me different because they read me wrong Sounds like a cold place.
Yeah, it was a good place to grow up. And yourself?
I grew up in California , then moved to Arizona. So I did high school in Arizona, it was a great time. Are you in to sports/ ?*
So basically the opposite of the climate I was raised in! Good stuff. I'm into swimming, but not competitively. The only competitive "sport" I engage in is dance. What sort of sports do you play?
Oh no way! What's your style? I'm all about every sport. Most recently volleyball. Dancing is rad though.
I do hip-hop and break dancing as well as ballroom dancing. When you say "most recently" does that mean you cycle through them? Or that you recently go into volleyball?
Liiiiiit. I have some buddies that compete in little break dance battles in Salt Lake. Yeah, I recently got in to volleyball bue it but it's all about the weather Do you compete?
Dope! That's the sort of thing I do! Have they done anything with the Boy Federation? Those guys rock! *B-Boy Federation
I don't think so, the event was a super small and not well organized. Are you on a crew? One joined Living Legends so he doesn't do the competitions anymore
Ah, that's too bad. I was on a crew, but this semester was really busy with my classwork, so I didn't compete. Are you on a volleyball team?
HA naw, intramurals is the closest I get to "being on a team" I play pickup with the boyz and that's pretty much it. Oh and the girls too. Wahat are you studying/ what*?
Do you have a court at your apartment complex, or are you playing on campus usually?
Usually on campus or at a church building. This summer probably mostly sand at Helaman or Kiwanis. Hopefully we can get some grass ball going Do you play?
I enjoy the game, but I'm nothing special to watch. I'm lucky if the ball goes anywhere but my face or into the net. Do you play regularly then, or just throw together a game every so often?
Word, even the bottom has a start right? I play at least once a week. I've gotten pretty fat this semester so I'm looking to up that significantly Do you dance with your wife/ ?*
Being indoors studying all the time isn't the best health practice. That's why God created summers, to recover physically. Yeah, she knows some ballroom as well, so we go dancing every so often. Have you ever been swing dancing? Heck, have you ever been dancing?
Yeah a few times. I really like it but I've never had much practice. The last girl I dated always wanted me to go with her but she's really good and told me she'd probably dance with other guys most of the time so I just never went
That's too bad. What stops you from going now?
I'd rather play sports haha
Fair enough. What are you studying?
Statistics, what about you?
Computer Engineering.  But I almost majored in Statistics. What's your emphasis?
Nice man! Is that why you're on this project? Applied and analytics. I've switched my major like four times so it's time for me to graduate
Haha, yeah, that's how I heard about it. Applied statistics allows you to focus on something other than stats, right? Don't you get to take a few classes in a different subject area?
Yup, I'm excited for the electives. When do you finish school?
I've got three more years, man. On top of the two I've already finished. I'm going to be here forever.
Oh dang bro! Warrior So you're doing the masters?
Nope, just the bachelors. I entered the program late, so I'm going to finish in 5 years, not 4 like most people.
Psh it'll be 5 for me too, maybe like one semester over that
Hey, we're in the same boat then! It feels like forever from where I'm standing, though. What's your plan after graduation? Got a company you want to work for? Or just more school?
Str8 to a company. No real ideas yet, but I tend to take things in stride. How about you? Any leads?
I'm in between going straight for a Masters vs starting my own business. My cousin and I have been floating the latter idea for a while now. He studied finance.
Sweet! Sounds like you have some solid plans. What's your wife studying?
I'd call them ideas more than plans. Three years is a long time to figure that stuff out. When do you finish? Oh, and my wife is studying Russian.
Word. I should be done the fall after next. Did she serve there or something?
So, about a year and a half? Yep, she got back about two years ago. Do you speak another language?
Mmhmm. My roommate served in Novosibirsk. I speak Tagalog, how about you?
I speak Russian as well, actually. My wife and I met in Russia, of all places. Is Tagalog tricky? My sister recently spent last summer in the Philippines on an internship, but she didn't learn much. of the language, I mean.
Whaaaaaat that's rad! Hard place to find happiness, but you two made it work! It is a tough language. I'm taking off to play some volleyball. Great to chat with you! Best of luck!
Keep it real, man!