Dinner with strangers
Thursday, October 15th, 2015 | tags: Amtrak, chicago, conversation, IL, train, USA |
You have to book a table in the dining car on the Amtrak “Empire Builder”. You wait at the carriage door to be seated and the waiter places you with 3 other passengers, who embarked and will disembark at different stations. Forced socialness. I was placed at a table with Betty and John, a couple with silvering hair, and Glenn. A fat, balding realtor with 5 daughters.
Glenn: I detect an accent, what bought you to America, what’s his name
Wendy: (named my employing Fortune 100 company and it’s male CEO)
John nearly spat out his food, and barely managed to subdue the smile. As the meal progressed Glenn changed from domineering, leading the conversation to quiet. I felt a bit mean, but such overt sexism tends to quell my ability to empathise with a person.
Also, Betty and John’s story was very interesting. Glenn’s story was also interesting… but…
