I realized that I can converse really well about the following topics: Asian American identity/language issues, foreign languages, culture, Friends and other certain TV shows, spiritual wellness, and movies.
The rest of the topics in this world I have no clue how to even start discussing. This past weekend I went to a dinner at a 2nd grade parent's house to mingle with 2nd grade parents. They were checking out the next year's third grade teachers (that's me). So I went from one parent to another, talking it up. The most interesting conversation I had was with a parent about his adopted Vietnamese child. I asked about identity and language issues, etc. It was great! The other conversations, I struggled. :(
Then on Saturday we went to Lisa and Jae's wedding. It was great! The conversations I had that flourished revolved around movies. I didn't know how to talk to people about their jobs, except if they were a teacher. And I thought about why this is. Danny is a great conversationalist. He has certain skills, such as pockets of knowledge about every topic in the world, and the ability to carefully execute stories/jokes/vignettes. It's all about timing, he says.
I have none of this. I don't really know about this world. I took the extreme of the phrase "Be in the world, but not of the world." I don't know secular music. I can't place names with faces in entertainment or government or news. (I just recently forced myself to memorize the name Avril Lavigne, but I still haven't memorized what song she sings.) I only have a general sense of what's going on in the world.
And if you've ever heard me tell stories, you'll know that I tend to elaborate the details, and not stick to the pertinent details. So by the time I tell my point, my audience is very tired, and I don't have a successful execution.
I think what I realized I should do is to try to learn about the world as best as I can, but also try to talk to people about some of the issues I'm good at, like spiritual wellness. Especially to other Christians. Because I was so worried about knowing who Avril Lavigne was, I have failed to ask other Christians how their spiritual lives are going. That's what I like to talk about. How has God been speaking to you lately? Are you satisfied with your life? With your job?
Anyways, I appreciate the fact that I have a very knowledgeable husband, because without him, I wouldn't have known about the war in Iraq, the man who cut off his hand to survive, and Avril Lavigne. Thanks Danny.