An Evening with Sarah Turner

Last night I had the unexpected pleasure of skyping with Sarah Turner, a close friend from Semester at Sea, for a while.

Sarah and I in Shanghai.

 Talking with someone who knows me so well, and who I know well in turn, was refreshing. Lately I have been feeling distinctly disconnected from people. I have a small number of close friends here in Boone, but the majority of them are gone or too busy to see regularly. While my job requires me to be social, I often feel as though few people know me.

This is, of course, my own fault.
I am painfully introverted.
I know I come across as cold and stand-offish when people first meet me. Some people have even said I am intimidating upon introduction (why, I'm not quiet sure). This impression is due largely to my economy of words upon meeting new people- If I dont have something interesting to say, I wont say anything; I'll hang back and watch. I enjoy watching people- I can figure most people out quickly, at least on a surface level. I love to watch people interact.
I am the ultimate wallflower.

I've been meeting a lot of new people recently- and so I have been feeling the similar feeling of discomfort; that feeling that whispers in my ear that I am somehow not normal; that there could be something wrong with me.

Talking with my lovely friend Sarah reminded me that being introverted is not a crime. There is nothing wrong with me. Sure, our conversation may have included sayings like, "You don't think Russian guys are cute? Have you seen young Stalin?" I miss my SAS friends more everyday (so, if, you're reading this I miss you).