1st subject: Star and I are friends due to mutual hobbies, mainly singing and kpop. Star is also painfully extroverted while I am awkwardly introverted.asking her to hangout wasn't too much of a chore. Now, I admit, this trial was delay for about a week since she came down with the flu during break (resulting in me buying ramen for her). When we did end up hanging out, I first drove her to a milk tea shop and explained the differences between pearl milk tea, bubble tea, and boba tea (yes, there is a difference). We then walked next door to Marina's Food Market and I gave her a tour around my favorite sections: the ramen, dumpling/drinks, and childhood snacks section. I also asked for permissions to do things throughout the entire trip... I didn't really talk much about other things besides that and let her do most of the talking. According to my data, we had more of a master-slave relationship in which she told me what she wanted and asked me questions while I chauffeured and provided answers to the best of my ability. I'm not sure how to feel about that.
2nd subject: Now Tabi is a different story. She's practically sister, my long lost, equally awkward twin, so I was extremely comfortable talking to her about anything and everything. We normally laze around in the school library (I'll be sitting on the floor while she's on one of the couches) and try to study; however, we're bother a little too considerate and aware of the other's presence. Every time we tried to do our work, we get distracted with our own as well as each other's quirks. I'd often ask if I was "taking too much space on the table" or throw slightly guilty glances at her unsandal-clad feet, wondering whether or not I should tell her that it bothers me. On the other hand, Tabi constantly tells me that I don't have to sit on the floor and subconsciously looks at me whenever I start squirming around due to my inability to sit still. As a result, we didn't get much done. Instead,we jacked one of the library computers and watched Marvel Disk Wars. Furthermore, during our breaks and lunches, I've noticed that somehow or another, we start complaining about people, which in turn, is not healthy for a Happy Virus project.
3rd subject: my only acquaintance at the moment, Kitty, is a little demanding. In her eyes, I am, and I quote, "that awkward, weirdo character in every movie that no one wants to be friends with, but when the main character is depressed or needs something, they're always there for them" (I was not a happy duck when I heard that the first three times). First things first, I was not the one who initiated this hangout, but her. She randomly came up to me and said "you need to take me to Saratoga Bagels for lunch." How does one respond to that without nodding dumbly? Within that process, she was my backseat driver, to the point that she told me where to park and when to signal. While waiting for our bagels, she complained about everything and on the way back, she backseat drove me again. For some reason, I just took it, probably because we weren't that close.
As a fourth, but unofficial trial, I took Tabi and Kitty to Starbucks. Let's just say that there was a potential cat fight that would have broken loose if I wasn't stuck in between. I had to spot Tabi because she didn't have any physical money on her (which she paid back immediately after she had access to an atm machine), and I had to try not once, but thrice a poorly made, and probably rotten smoothie for Kitty because she wasn't sure if it tasted funny or not (I'm not the biggest supported of drinking from the same staw, but she was). She also insisted on staying in my car when we arrived back at school and left her half empty water bottle and an empty bag of chips for me to clean up.
As far as I'm concerned, my research has shown me that friends will be more respectable about your property; however, they may also take advantage of certain privileges such as becoming their chauffeur. To be honest, I wasn't very aware that these behaviors were occurring until this project and although I made the subjects happy, not only do they just brush it off later, in return, I am VERY unsatisfied if not unhappy. Apparently, so far, my hypothesis was correct that people do affect your mood regardless of environment; however, the way I'm finding that out is making me depressed more than anything.
So I came up with a different approach, something less... Emotionally draining.
I call it Operation: Acts of Random Kindness. With OARK, I use my observation skills in order to determine what kinds of acts to deliver to randomly applied subjects. For now, I'm starting out small, applying it to classmates, providing the following services:
-food/pleasant gift
-a shoulder to cry on and an ear to listen with full, undivided attention
-relief of boredom
This appears to be receiving more positive effects than personal one on one time, but there are some flaws. I have yet to see people "pass it on" after receiving my services, which defeats the purpose of giving them a dose of happy virus.
I'm still quite confused about how this all works at the moment, and I feel bad that I can't help my fellow shy introverts at the moment. Does anyone have any suggestions on my next move or should I continue what I'm doing right now?
