Biography 330: Over phone calls.

 In my student life, I used to talk over phone for hours. It wasn't one-sided. People who talked with me also liked to keep the conversation going. Unless anyone showed annoyance, I kept going with this phone-a-friend conversation.

I liked phone calls because, when I speak in person, I don't just hear what they are saying; I see how they are reacting, what they are doing, and how much interest they show in my speaking. So, obviously, I shortened my sentences and completed the conversation. I don't want to annoy anyone, because I don't like to be annoyed, either.

Now that I am older, I like to talk over video calls too. I want to be sure how the person is reacting during the conversation, so I can decide what to say and what not to say.

In my work life, I have had good conversations with my clients and colleagues. As a volunteer, I have worked on a phone-a-friend project, where I contacted lonely senior people during the COVID-19 pandemic and talked with them. While talking with them, I have found that I have benefited by learning many things from them. They just had someone to talk to.