Who’s the stranger beside you..?

i don't know why but i often get approached by fellow travellers. some to ask something or sometimes to have a small chat. i easily fall into conversations especially on long flights or travel time. as simple as someone offering a pen when filling up an embarkation card would generate a 30-min conversation... another 15 minutes if his english is limited (because of translaton process). in most cases, we would swap names and stuff we do... trying to learn a connection or shared interest. if there is, then a longer conversation is perhaps in order. i am greatly interested in people, life and experiences. i am fascinated by people from different countries, cultures and languages. there's a lot of stuff to talk about and learn too. it only takes a smile to spark off a conversation. my bestfriend and i happened to meet in the same manner. strangers one moment, bestfriends after some time. it took a smile to start a beautiful 15-year old friendship that has not witnessed a single fight to date.

Hi banerji I have to say i am quiet a reserved person and don't tend to talk to strangers much, i certainly would not raise any topic to converse with unless it is really important, although i would respond to them as friendly as i could if they ask me something... but that's just it, i will not share anything with them...

hello abanerji. hahahaha,hohoho my children would roll on the floor at this. They tell me mom you would start up a conversation with a rock if noone was around! Yes, to all you asked! I talk to people in the grocery line, in the stores I shop, in the parking lot, on a bus, in line at movies, at childrens events..you name it I talk. Now,I WILL say I have a gift of sensing anothers disposition..I may say hi and by their response and body language tell if it is a reserved person, unfriendly, friendly, or like me a chatterbox! So the level I would talk and share would directly be related to how much the other was responding. I also will try to encourage or compliment if I sense its just a bad day.That alone can bring people out of their shells. Since having an auto accident, I do not do all the physical activities I use to. I have turned online to meeting people. Yet, we still have doctors appts, shopping,school activities which must be attended. I find even if I am drained or feel like crap, I respond with a smile and the outgoing temperment I was born with. Thank you for your question.

Now I am very quiet during traveling time. If some strangers want to talk with me, I will talk with them. But not give my private information to them, I think that's very dangerous.

I pretend as if I do not even see the preson sitting beside me hi hi. I hate travelling alone but when I have no option I have to. On most occations I do not strike up a conversation with the person sitting beside me. But it so appened that last time on the flight, I was the only lady in the vicinity of five seat rows and these middle aged men were drinking and pulling each others leg. I completely ignored them but one among came up to me and asked whether I was married and where I was going...I just told that i was to the first question adn looked away.

This is a really good question. I traveled alone on buses a lot in college, and I rarely spoke to the person sitting next to me, but if that person struck up a conversation, I would. I'm friendly, but I'm also a cynical East Coaster so I don't trust all that easily. It would depend on the vibe I got from the person as to whether I would want to exchange emails.

I don't usually talk to persons sitting beside while i am traveling alone, except when they initiate to ask or talk, I talk or respond to them nicely. Also when there is a need for me to ask questions, like directions in a foreign place or something I need to clarify and ask, then I ask the people/ persons who I think can answer my questions best.

hi abanerji No not really as usually when i am on a bus i'will 'never see that person again and I am very reserved.if its'another older woman I might speak but will not ask personal questions' unless she gives info to me and I sure as hell will not tell'her myname or Adddress or anything like that. I am too careful as'one never knows who is seated beside you.

I'm very gregarious by nature, so I talk to people all the time, especially if I'm stuck in a line or on a bus. I love meeting new people and having interesting conversations. Having said that, I am very cautious. I don't ever give out my last name or phone number or anything like that, except in special circumstances like both of us being at the same convention or something like that.