Day 10: Sometimes I love people.

A, as she allowed me to call her was a Professor of Theatre and Performance Studies. Gave me some life advice. Though almost a stranger, for some reason (as it does occur sometimes) we got on. She told me how naturally, she’s an introvert but because her job requires her to deal with people effectively, she deploys the little extravert skills she might have. I told her I’m kind of the same, although I sometimes do enjoy being in big crowds. To me she seemed quite extraverted, but maybe it’s a result of ‘fake it till you make it’ efforts that she made over the years. She told me a bunch of things about what working in academia was like, as that was my question. I was inspired by her. It was rather a dull day, a dull week in fact! I don’t know if it was the frosty weather and the rain that got me but I was just not up for it. But she reminded that no effort is wasted. It’s not nothing, all the experience I have had so far, even if it seems like a waste of time at first glance. She told me about her past jobs, her upcoming book! arrogance of some academics, her brilliant colleague, how she thinks uni students are the greatest and the most effective vector for illnesses to which I nodded in agreement. I told her about how I enjoyed Spielberg’s latest film, The Fablemans, that I went to watch Hamilton, how much I love films, my adoration for theatre and how I secretly dream of doing theatre. She said don’t do it! she seemed to appreciate my job better than I do for its stability compared to jobs in the arts.

P, a very good looking man that also turns out to be quite interesting with an agile mind. You can almost hear his mind working. I asked him some questions about working in academia again as that has been on my mind lately. He told me a bunch of things. He had an interesting background. Been all around the world. Seemed a little shy, sensitive but passionate.

K so far has not failed to motivate me in subtle ways with his young mind and wisdom. Our conversations last for hours. I can feel my mind get overloaded and tired but it’s good. It doesn’t often get exhausted in this way. In this way I mean from talking so much and analysing so much about the topics I like to ponder about. We seem to be interested in the same things, amazed by the same things. A growing sense of friendship.

G’s way of talking comforts me. Not too dramatic, genuine and unpretentious. It puts me at ease and allows me to just be and chill. Tonight I’m in appreciation of our long friendship. We were just kids when we first became friends.

When she asked ‘Who was the most interesting person you met since moving to Auckland?’ I should have said and truthfully so, “So far, everyone has been extremely interesting in their own right”.

Sometimes people really lift you up and give you strength without even trying by being genuine and open to have conversations. I really appreciate these moments, all the small talks, big talks and everything in between.

I am so tired, going to sleep so well tonight. Goodnight everyone x