you always need an intro

welcome to introspection ft. harsehaj! ⭐️ i’m harsehaj, a 19 y/o always up to something in social good x tech.

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btw, feel free to reply with topic ideas you want me to write about for future posts.

onto today’s topic: you always need an intro 💬 

as you know, i’m currently solo traveling asia and my current base is seoul. in san francisco, i was accustomed to the endless introductions i had to give at events. my name, what i’m working on, where i’m from, etc.. now coming to the social hostel setting while traveling, i’ve noted that it’s interesting how the style of introductions changes with the context.

well, obviously it would, but i forgot that other people also come from different worlds and it’s important to introduce yourself using that shared context. 💁 

for example, i spent last night just chatting and hanging out with others at my hostel and as more people kept pouring in, i found myself falling back into that rhythm of repeatedly introducing myself; however the contents were changed slightly.

rather than the projects i worked on, it was the countries i’ve traveled to. 🌏️ 

rather than my school/work background, it was where i’m from and why i’m traveling.

rather than my plan for the rest of the year, it was my plan for tomorrow in seoul.

in both settings nobody really cared to ask about age which is also fascinating. it’s probably because the shared interests of building in tech (sf) and solo traveling (korea) are enough to gauge your credibility in the group.

intros are always important for forming bonds with others. after all, it’s the first impression, the most lasting one. i’ve learned the shift in context, and can’t wait to keep meeting new people and learn about their stories. 📖 

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