street smarts.

So, after living in Asia for two years, I knew I had lost my street smarts edge a bit. I was aware of that fact and thought that I'd be alert and the sheer fact that I acknowledged that I was lacking in said department would get me through. Not so much.

I talk to everyone. Even more so after spending time in a country where I wasn't able to communicate in a way that I wanted to. I have always loved talking to randoms. I have also started taking the bus around Chicago. These two items do not go so well together as I've started conversations with two different people who I realized I should not be talking to in the last week. The first time, I found myself in Humboldt Park- not totally sketchy but parts of it are for sure. I think I was in one of the more sketchy areas. The sun was beating down and we had just missed the bus so I thought it'd be a great time to start a conversation. The young pregnant woman was innocent enough but I could tell she was thinking that I am clearly not from around these parts. Of course I volunteered said information. I tried to smile and give her a wave when she exited the bus, but she did not make eye contact.

The other night I was meeting a friend at a bar a straight shot from where I'm staying, so I decided to take the bus down the street. Of course I had a very strong vodka cocktail while getting ready (pre-drinks are alive and well at age 32) and was feeling good. I was also dressed in a little dress (not too little, but little enough). I got on the bus and the bus driver started driving right away, I flew down the aisle and tried to grab a seat near a pole and ended up straddling this large woman. I apologized to her and then she muttered something about how the bus drivers need to learn to wait before people are sitting down. I took my headphone out and said something ridiculous about how they aren't worried about anyone but themselves (trying to be on the same page with her) and realized she had a face tattoo. So, yeah, I straddled a woman with a face tattoo on the bus that night.

Needless to say, I'm starting to realize that maybe I shouldn't just talk to anyone on the street and I've probably got a giant target on my head. Such a noob.