Mood: errr…
Being The New Guy is usually celebrated in Japanese role-playing games. You would find that in most games, the main character is a transfer student either from the city or from the countryside. He is stoic, indifferent and unassuming. He stands in front of the class as the teacher urges him to say a couple of things about himself. He says his name and where he comes from and leaves it at that. Then the students, buzzing around in curiosity, raise their hands eagerly to ask The New Guy some questions. He doesn’t care much about his 15 minutes of fame, he never really answers straight enough. He goes to his seat (usually at the back corner of the classroom) and looks out into the distance.
The main fact that is celebrated with being The New Guy is that you bring freshness and peculiarity to an already familiar territory. The presence of The New Guy, however seemingly boring he is, is a cause for celebration. The character itself pierces through routine which makes him interesting to follow. Since people barely know anything about The New Guy, he can be anything. People will imagine him to be a selfish bastard, a tormented artist, a swimmer… he would fit in all those categories because he’s new. But as time reveals more about him and he gets absorbed in the routine, he will eventually be “just like everyone else”
I was never good at playing The New Guy. Whenever I’m new to an environment or a group of people, I turn into someone completely opposite from what I really am. I clam up and answer everything with a bright smile. I look down a lot and I always have absolutely nothing interesting to say. When I try to crack jokes, I sound like an old fart. When I try to open a conversation I usually mumble. I was never the one who could give a striking first impression.
So… I played The New Guy today. I was apologetic most of the time, quiet and I smiled too much. Also, I wasn’t able to get anything decent to eat because I was too nervous. It will take some time (not a lot because I tend to adapt easily) until I get to be comfortable in this kind of setting. It’s like a shiny new shoe. I have to get used to walking around with it at first. I’m thankful for the schedule though, it’s… normal. I get to stay up a little longer than usual when I’m out partying with the girlfriends. hehehe~
Anyway, I think today was actually a good improvement for me considering that back in high school, I NEVER said a word during the first day of classes. I was always buried in my notebook, doodling with my mechanical pencil and making all sorts of characters and stories. I withdrew from any kind of conversation. Now, I’m actually pretty agreeable. I talk to people and I’m not that shy to say goodbye while I was leaving.
Meh… who would’ve thought I’m this shy?
touch it?
