Fun Things to do Over the Summer (or How to Interact with People After the Pandemic)

Well here we are, hopefully approaching the end of a very long pandemic. While it is exciting to finally not have to social distance and wear masks everywhere, this means that we actually have to meet strangers again.

If you are anything like me, you have spent the last year in a near comatose state, hiding from the light and responsibility and doing as few things as possible. Between online work, online class, and a lack of any social events, morale dropped like a rock and hobbies quickly were replaced by more vegetatvie activities.

Unfortunately this makes small talk...difficult, to say the least. People don’t like to hear about the longest I have gone without showering (writing from experience).

With summer on the horizon, it seems that we are given another chance to do some interesting things to boost our ability to interact with strangers and make new friends.

Those who are returning to school in the fall are going to see a lot of people you have never seen around campus before, and those who are not are going to have to meet new people in new places.

Why not use this summer as an opportunity to fill the gaping hole that seems to have swallowed the past year? Here are some fun things you can do this summer to prepare for conversations with strangers on and around campus.

1. Read a book

Whether fiction or nonfiction, prose or verse, reading is a great way to find new information and interesting ideas to share with others. Perhaps try reading something that you are not super familiar with to better connect with others who are more different from you.

Perhaps try reading a book on natural science so you can point out birds or plants to strangers and impress them with your large brain.

2. Watch T.V. shows or movies

Similarly to the point above, popular culture is an easy way to connect with others, and what screams popular culture more than popular movies or shows?

Many of these have interesting themes that can spark deeper and interesting conversations (after all, a stranger is only a stranger for so long), but it is also easy to geek out about fun scenes or characters.

3. Learn a new hobby

Doing things is cool, and people like people who do cool things. Try picking up a new hobby like knitting, sewing, smelting, lock picking, or apiculture.

The possibilities are endless! You may meet people who are interested in the same hobby, or you might meet people who have no idea what apiculture means. Either way you can nerd out about something you are passionate about and they get to do the same (assuming you give them the opportunity to nerd out as well).

4. Write!

What would a writing center blog be without some mention of writing? Writing is a great way to express yourself in ways that are difficult to do otherwise. Whether the work is creative or expository, writing is a good way to make ideas and feelings more concrete.

This makes it easier to talk with others about your ideas. It also makes you seem super cool. People will swoon at your poetic prowess. If you do any amount of writing, people immediately want to know about it. Writing is an excellent way to pass the time and to prepare conversation topics. Plus, you get to practice up for the coming school year!

With these ideas, you will be a pro at talking about the super interesting and cool things you can do with the strangers who don’t know they are your friends yet.

Happy summer Kohawks!