Most of the time, people tend to think I'm pretty shy for the first several months we live somewhere. It's kind of true, but I don't really like the shy Chelsea. She's quiet and, let's face it, kind of boring. Shy Chelsea doesn't get out much, and when she does, no one knows what to talk to her about. She makes jokes, but no one thinks they're funny, because quiet people don't want to be laughed at, right?
My favorite joke these days is about the World Cup. It's going to be in Brazil in 2014, and we'll be there for it. "I hear it's kind of a big deal down there," I say. And I think I'm hilarious. People who know me more than 6 months think I'm hilarious. People I just meet think I'm kind of stupid. And that's a problem.
So I'm trying to prove people wrong. I'm not stupid. I'm not even quiet. I love talking, and I love having friends. I just need to show this to people. We'll see how it works this time around.
We had a get-to-know-you class during Sunday School today for the new people in our ward. The couple to our right had just been married for 3 weeks. The couple beside them for 3 months. "So, do you have any kids?" Did I really just ask that? Quiet people don't make risky jokes. But I just did! After a few awkward moments, people laughed. And voila! the 10 people in that class know I'm not "that quiet girl."
We invited the missionaries over to dinner tonight. I could have signed up for next week, giving us time to settle in first. But when you're trying to jump in with both feet, you can't wait a few months before life begins. So we invited them for today! They came. We got to know them. Our girls had a tea party with them (sister missionaries, FYI), and it was marvelous.
I feel like I live here. I feel like this is my home. Pretty soon I'll even know some people, know their names, and have conversations a bit deeper than, "So, where are you from?" And I hope that by putting a little more of myself out there, on the line, that Shy Chelsea will be a thing of the past.
3 comments:
My favorite YW president growing up (who was incidentally the wife of the Eagles head coach, Andy Reid) was so funny and cheerful and witty and talkative. She was interviewed by TV and magazine people all the time and always was quick on her feet with interesting responses. One day she told me that she used to be desperately shy and hardly ever talked, and I was SHOCKED. But her family moved to a new state when she was 16, and she just decided to change her personality! So in her new place, she was talkative and confident, and it just kind of became her! It was a pretty drastic story, but moves are good times to start new and be who you want to be, and nobody has preconceived notions about you.
(Although I think you're already fine! But if it makes you feel better, go for it!)
This reminds me a lot of myself. There was a new sister in our ward who was really friendly and loud, and she thought I was "that quiet girl." Then she got to know me and is now one of my best friends and says, "When I met you, I didn't know if we'd be friends, but I love you and you're not quiet!"
Its not so bad being the quiet girl :) but I can understand the need for deeper relationships and think you are smart, and brave to not wait for that to happen. I love your motto of making where you live your home, no matter how long or short you're there. I meet lots of people who seem to be waiting to get settled until ______ happens (fill in the blank). Thats why even though I'm in a rental I invest lots of time and energy into a garden. It makes me happy, and its my home even if I don't own it :)
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