Conversations in Cambridge

John and I took a trip to Cambridge today. We wandered around, got some lunch, looked in the Anthropology and Archaeology Museum. Then we went down to the bridge to see if we could catch a punter falling into the water. As we were standing on the bridge making our own commentary on the punters and the ducks we could overhear the two guys next to us doing the same thing.

The next thing I knew, one of those guys was talking to us about the lost dignity of a particular punter who had taken his shirt off. Soon both guys were talking to us about their opinions on Cambridge and US state governors and various other random things. (I mentioned to them Uncle Sonny's plan to solve Georgia's water shortage by stealing back land from Tennessee. They were quite amused.) We ended up spending the rest of our time in Cambridge hanging out with our new friends and watching a rugby game in a nearby pub.

The one young man who was not as interested in rugby talked to me at length about how so many people don't want to connect with other people. They are not interested in making conversation with strangers. This really bothered him. It occurred to me that I am often that kind of person. I'm terrible at small talk and I'm shy. I put in the effort to get to know people I will see often, but someone I'm never going to see again? The thing is that being somewhat more isolated living here and not going to school like John does, maybe I'm starved for human interaction. I'm starting to see the value in making new friends, if only for the afternoon.

John and I ended up sitting with a very chatty woman on the train ride back. And as it turns out, she lives in Norwich and gave us her card. So her, we may see again. It has been a very full day.