I started DJ Camp Week 1 - Journal

[ticks]

Hello Everyone:

I just started DJ Camp. I want to post my experience so you can give me feedbacks.

Location: Stanford Shopping Mall in Palo Alto, CA, Close to Stanford University
Time: 6:30 PM
Experiment: Say hi to 50 Strangers
Requirement: need to get a response + my eye contact need to outlast the other person by at least 1 second.


After getting off my car, I saw a guy and a gal holding hands and walking toward my way. I dont think they want be bothered. So I just keep walking. I then met my first enounter.

Encounter #1: 2 old couple walking toward me. I made an eye contact with the old man then said hi. He returned his greeting "hi there"

Encounter #2: Family of three, father, son (about 5 yrs old) and mother. The fater turned his head to look for his playful son. I made an eye contact and immediately said "how are you"

Encounter #3: Old man sitting on the bench - walked by him and said hi

Encounter #5: Man in his 30's, wearing sunglasses - Walked toward him and said hi

Encounter #6: Black guy with tie. I made an eye contact with him, God.. his eye doesn't want to move away. And I certainly dont want to move my eye away. I know I need to outlast him by one second. I smiled at this point. and said "how are you"

Encounter #7: Woman with sunglass with kid - said hi but didn't reply

Encounter #8: A guy sitting in a van - I made an eye contact with him then waved at him. After the inital eye contact, he immediately looked the other side - he is ignoring me or not confident enough?

Encounter #9: Woman in her 30's, asian with sunglasses. I ask "how are you" right after she crossed the street. She replied with a such enthusiasm and which gave me the impression she wants to talk more. I then asked "going somewhere?" She replied, "I need to take something" wow.. an open-ended question which can lead to more question. Unfortunately, i just want to say "hi" for this experiment, no time to chat. so i just kept walking.

Encounter #10: A white/blond girl was pushing box. She didn't notice i was walking toward her. I asked "do you need some help" She turned her head, with a suprised smile "no thanks, i am fine" Beautiful smile.

Encounter #11: A guys sitting in chair was looking at me as i walking toward him. (he was observing me, I think) I turned my eye toward him and said hi

Enounter #12: A man sitting on the bench and eating his food. I looked down until his moved his head up and noticed me. i said hi immmediately. he said "hi" I can tell he is the conversation type just from his tone. I then said "how is your food..?" dont remember what he replied. I think I walked away too fast

Encounter #13: Two mexican guy.. speaking spanish. walking toward me. I said how are you to both.. they replied something i couldn't understand.

Encounter #14: A girl borrowing my pen. I was writing notes on my notpad. and all of the sudden a girl came and wants to borrow my pen and notepad. I ripped a piece of paperand gave to her along with my pen. I waited until she returned my pen.

Encounter #15: Asn asian girl in her 20's seems lost. She was walking in circles.. I asked "are you lost? do you need some help" she turned her body around and was suprised. i can tell she wasn't expecting anything. She is such a shy girl. When I lookd at her, she loswered her head. She said "no"

Encounter #16: A chinese lady with her kid. I said "ni hao"

Encounter #17: 2 white guys. walking toward me as I headed to my car. "I said hi"

Oberservation

While I was relaxing, I observed a 2 people (a white male and a japanese female) having dinner. The girl was talking with her heavy japanese accent. All of the sudden i understood the role between active and passive, dominant and submissive. The one in control doesn't say much.. The japanese girl obviousely was not in control Talking while wipping her mouth. and the white guy was just looking at her...

This completes my experiment for Day 1

 

[ticks]

Is this the right place to post journal?

Sorry if i posted in the wrong place.

If it is wrong, somone please let me know where I should post it.

 

[ticks]

what is the point?

I guess no one is reading.. or giving feedbacks

what is the point for doing journals..

 

[ApC23]

nice, your doing better than me in the first week. you were alone when you went to the mall?....i think tomorrow i should do that, i need to finish my 50 still. how old are u if u dont mind me asking

 

[Rocko]

Only thing we can say is good job and keep it up. Good luck and keep with this great pace. Congradulations on your achievement!

 

[ticks]

Day 2 Week 1

Location: Cupertino Village, Cupertino, CA
Time: 7:20 PM
Experiment: Say hi to 50 Strangers
Requirement: need to get a response + my eye contact need to outlast the other person by at least 1 second.

I was quite busy at work today. When I arrived at the shopping center, it was almost dark.

#1 An old man in 50's, I saw him walking aimlessly. I turned around (he was walking back and forth) and asked him,

I --> "Are you looking for something?"
He --> "I am looking for a Thai place".
I -->"a Thai Restaurant?"
He "Yes, I can't find it"
I --> "look at the directory, it is over there" I pointed my hand toward the directory stand
He --> "Yes...." (dont remember what else he said)
I --> "Good luck"
He --> "thank you"

#2 a Chinese man, in his 50's. We changed "hi"

#3 An asian old man, I said "hi", he didn't reply, but instead, he nodded his head.. very interesting.

#4. White guy, we changed "hi"

#5. An asian girl wearing glassess, tall and slim, ignored my greeting. (no eye contact)

#6. An Afrian, with heavy accent. We chatted while walking together

I --> going somewhere?
He --> I am looking for a good asian restaurant
I --> Not sure which one is good for you, you have to try it yourself
He --> yes, you are right.
I --> (there is a restaurant right in front of us now ) Take care
He --> bye

#7 A girl, ignored my greeting, maybe it is getting dark.

#8 An old man (couldn't recall what I said)

#9 A guy pushing the trash can. When he saw me, he lowered his head. too bad. cannot greet you.

#10 - #14 Now I am walking toward a group of people. I said hi or how are you to 5 of them. About 2 second delay between each person. There is a lady on the very end looked at me with a suprised face.. (She probably wonder how I know so many people??? i am not sure) This is fun, I looked like a star.

#15 A man, in 20's, I greeted him with "hi", he nodded, no reply, just a nod..

#16 A lady, hi, she replied with "hello"

#17 It is getting dark. Not very many people are walking now. i saw some tables outside an restaurant. I randomly picked a table, 3 guys were sitting there. I learned later that their names are Fong, Thai, and Jackson

I --> "may i join your guys"
Fong --> "Sure, are you a cop"
I --> "Of course not. I am just hanging out here, bored"
Fong --> "Where are the girls?"
I ---> "I dont have one, otherwise, i wouldn't be here"
All three --> laughing.
I --> "what are you guys doing here"
Fong --> (forgot what he said"
...
Fong --> Do you live nearby?
I --> yes, about 10 min drive. I shop here often.
...
I --> So what do you do? (made an eye contact with Thai)
Thai --> I am a student at Cal Poly. I just gradauted
I --> Do you have a job lined up ?
Thai --> yes, in august. So, what about you? What do you do?
......
I --> I am a ----..
Thai --> Oh cool.. Do you know scott Trade?
I --> Yes. There are 3 major trading company.... blah blah..
Thai --> What your company
I --> blah blah.. talking about stocks now.. I am not an expert. but i sure know more than these guys.
.......

I ---> (noticed there other 2 are out of conversation) So what do you do ( looking at jackson)
Jackson --> he is a loser (Fong interrupted) , I am in college, I am going to get my AA soon
I --> Good for you, you can then transfer to a 4 yr university
......

I --> So what about you, what do you do (looking at Fong)
Fong --> i dont do anything (I can tell it is a lie)
I --> Are you a student
Fong --> yes. Do you do drugs? (What the hell??)
I --> no. I dont want get addicted
Fong --> i am trying to quit
I --> I said something like (you should quite, drugs is not good for you, dont get addicted to it)
Fong --> I know
I --> (I did smell something weird from his body....better part) I need to go..

Fong --> What is your name

We exhanged names and shaked hands.

these guys are vietnamese , by the way

 

[ticks]

I am 27..

nice, your doing better than me in the first week. you were alone when you went to the mall?....i think tomorrow i should do that, i need to finish my 50 still. how old are u if u dont mind me asking

 

[ticks]

Day 3, Week 1 - End of Week 1

Location: Murphy Square, Sunnyvale, CA
Time: 7:30 PM
Experiment: Say hi to 50 Strangers
Requirement: need to get a response + my eye contact need to outlast
the other person by at least 1 second.

I was too sleepy yesterday. I didn't have enough sleep the night before. Right after work, I slept about 90 Min. I woke up with a heavy head, a slight headache. But no problem, my course is clear and my mission continues.

#1 Man Smoking - with cigarette in his mouth - I said How are you? He nodded. smart choice. If he said anything, his cigarette would slip off.

#2 A waiter from restaurant - he was outside serving food

#3 A guy playing guitar, about 40 years old, White wear Jean and shirt - I stopped and listened. I waited until he finishes
I --> Clap Clap..
He --> He looked at me, smiling
I --> You played very well. That was wonderful
He --> Thank you.
I --> What song was that?
He ->Norwegian Wood, subtitle This bird has flown.
I --> Very nice..
He --> He continued his next song.

#4. Old man with sunglasses and hat

#5. Lady (30-40) looking at the lottery stand.
I said, "98 Million dollar (the grand prize), that is a lot of money. " I said loud enough so she could hear. Unfortunately, she ignored me.

#6. Guy 20's. I asked, How are you? He replied, fine, and How are you doing? I replied, I am doing great,( of course.)

#7 A man, i said Hi, he replied "hi"

#8 Woman with child

#9 Man in his 20's mustache blue shirt

#10 Group of 3 - How are you guys doing - girl replied - fine

#11 Woman - I said hi, she replied hi

#12 A fat guy, at least 250LBs. ignored my greeting

#13 Hi to a woman in her 30's

#14 Hi to a man, who ignored me

#15 Group of 3. - Trying to make a eye contact, but they all decided to ignore me. They turned their ahead away from me.

#16 Man with cigarette - How are you doing?

#17 Man - I said hi

#18 Woman old in 60's, Mexican, with her daughter (i guess). I said hi, she replied warmly "hi..."

#19 Man - Turned his eye away, as I was trying to make eye contact

#20 Man in 40's with a bag of food, walking toward his car -- how are you, I said..

#21 Man 40's waiting for his wife/girlfriend - greeted me warmly

Observation 1:

As I walking on the street, I saw two Asian (probably Chinese) man and a woman walking out the car. I immediately followed them, trying to observe a dating event. They crossed the street, then walking on the side walk. About 2 minutes later (after they crossed the street), they began holding hands. I followed them along, keeping about 30ft distance. I thought they were going to a restaurant, but i was wrong. They just kept walking, from street to street, place to place. At one point, they turned around and began walking toward me. We met a face to face. After this point, i followed them about another 5 minutes, and eventually lost them. BAD LUCK... WRONG TARGET

Observation 2:

Observation #1 failed, but I was un-deterred. I went to a restaurant, bought a Gatorade, and found a chair outside, right across from a guy (cannot tell his race) and gal (asian, probably Chinese). Both are in their late 20's. What a perfect place to observe. I couldn't hear what they were saying, because there were people singing inside the restaurant (bar). It was really really loud. And I can only observe but not hear.

I observed several potential problems.

1. Several times, there were silences - I can tell because both mouths were not moving.
2. Sitting position is problematic - The guy and gal was sitting in a 180 degree angle (in straight line). Several times, the guy has to turn his head in order to make an eye contact
3. Poor eye contact - because the sitting angle, eye contact was impossible without turning around
4. Show a sign of uninterest - Several times, the guy yawned. He stretched several times. It gave me the impression that he was uninterested in the conversation.
5. The gal also showed uninterest. Several times, she looked sideways, not to the guy. I only observed she made one eye contact attempt with the guy.

While they weren’t looking, I took 2 pictures of them. About 15 minutes later (after I begin my observation), they left. They were walking together, but weren’t holding hands.

I predict they will never date each other again.

After the observation, I went inside the restaurant, trying to enjoy the performance. "love is a passion.." The female single kept repeating the same sentence.. I felt headache.. too stressed.. tooo loud for me. I then headed home.and slept..

This concludes my week one experiment. Stay tuned, for week 2 experiments, 3-10 minutes conversation with 25 strangers.