THE Lowly Peon

Smile 
31 January 2010, 8:54am

"if you smile at me, I will understand. because that is something everybody everywhere does in the same language." —csny

I went to the beach yesterday with some native vietnamese folk. very good time. one works for a tech company based in mountain view, and hopes to go there soon for training. for whatever reason — likely because I was searching for anything to talk about — I told her that Americans like when you smile as they walk by. a smile and a nod, that's enough to make a huge difference.

so I decided sometime this morning to try and do that more, and, more importantly, I'll try to not get angry if the recipient does not smile back.

experiment #1. I'm at a small bar on the .5th floor. just a little above ground level, and looking out at the excitment in Saigon. a girl walked by, maybe 30, appeared to not exactly be having the best day of her life.

you know that feeling when someone smiles at you, you smile back to be polite, but in doing so realize it really made you feel happy? you know when it happens because your cheek muscles close to your face tighten. a real smile. bot just a polite one.

well, the girl smiled. a real smile. and man do I feel good that I could make someone do that.

I think I'll keep this experient going. just because I know how good that feeling can be.