Osher Life Learning Institute - Social Break-Through

I have been telling Robin that the social interaction in both of my classes is virtually non-existent - folks looking down at the table with non-expressive faces when one says "good morning" or "hello."  Total non-recognition and blank stares out of the class room is the norm.

Robin said that it was up to me to initiate and get things going.

So this week in my Einstein course, it went like this:

Peter (to the man at his right, who usually sleeps through the class)  - "I see your name is Tibor.  Is that an Israeli name?"

Tibor - "Why do you ask of me that?"

Peter - "Your name ends in "or' which is the same for some Israeli names."

Tibor - "I am from Hungary."

Peter - "Oh."

Tibor - " But I have lived in Israel."

Peter - "Do you have a nick-name?"

Tibor - "No, but when I was young some people called me Tibi."

Henry (sitting next to Tibor and wanting to join in on this delightful conversation) - "When I was in my twenties, I was called Hank."

Tibor - "Why Hank? Is that a nick-name?"

Hank - Silence, puzzled look.

Peter - "When I was in my teens, they called me Pete."

Tibor - "I have a son whose name is Daniel; I call him Dan."

Class then resumes.