We all know that when we go to different schools, the top thing to have for most is FRIENDS. For some, it is hard. For some, it is easy. What do you think? I’ve been to summer schools in a few countries, so I personally have the “Charm” to make friends. It always works. This is “adapting” to a new school, and our “tools” of survival are friends. Most recently, in SAS, I was a loner. Not for long, though. People had I-pods, I-phones, and other things that make friends really fast. I had none, but I did have some other tricks. I had the “Charm”.
When I calmly stepped off the bright yellow school bus onto the gigantic marble floor of SAS middle school, and a near-by teacher helped me find my group. I quickly sorted the kids in my mind by friendly looking people, dull people, game addicts, Facebook addicts, and mean people. There were a few, including the leader of the group that caught my attention. Colin, a kid who seems a lot like my friend at ISB, Russell, tall and skinny, a friend of Colin, and Eric, the group leader. I calmly walked over to Colin and Russell.
Time to turn on the old charm. I thought.
“Hi!” I said calmly.
“ Hi,” He said.
“What’s your name?” I asked.
“Colin,”
“Russell,” they both said back.
“Nice. My name is ___________,” I answered, (My name and my personal things are secret.) “So, where are you from?”
“We are both from China,” Colin replied. Russell nodded, confirming that he was from China.
“ I’m from ________”
Now for the comedy. I thought.
“Hey Colin and Russell!” I exclaimed, “I have a joke!”
“Bring it on!” Colin said. I glanced at Russell to see if he was interested too. He was as ready as an Olympic runner.
“OK, there were 999 alien spies and one Chinese guy on a plane,” I started, “During the flight, the pilot announced, ‘we are having problems with the weight. We need to drop all of the luggage or else we will crash.’ The passengers all agreed, afraid that they will die. The flight attendants dropped the entire load of luggage off the plane. A few minutes later, the pilot again announced, ‘we need to drop the floor of the plane because of weight problems, again. Please hang on to the top of the plane,’ everyone did so. Then the flight attendants dropped the floor of the plane. BOOM! The floor hit the ground. Then, a few minutes later, the pilot announced, ‘ we are STILL having problems with the weight of the plane. We need one, just one person to jump off.’ Every alien turned to stare at the Chinese guy. He was defeated. ‘Fine. I will jump off, IF you make me famous and remember me as a god.’ The aliens agreed. ‘One more thing. Please clap for me.”
Colin burst out laughing, “Bye bye aliens!”
Russell looked puzzled.
“When the aliens clapped for the Chinese guy, they fell off because they were clapping when they were hanging on the roof of the plane! They fell off,” I explained.
Russell snickered.
By the laughing, I knew this was going to be a good friendship. What to do next, I thought.
That was how the Charm works. It is easy. Introductions, niceness and comedy-the best way to get friends. When you have a friend problem some time, try it your self. A good friend must know how to adapt to different schools. Coolness and tech doesn’t matter. Niceness matters. Oh, one more thing. Smile like an angel.
