Social introverts

How common are social introverts?

I don't know. I recall my father telling me about Christopher Lloyd, who doesn't give interviews. And Johnny Carson, who despite his extremely social character on TV, kept a reclusive life beyond his show. This continued long into his retirement. When asked in 1993 about his absence from the limelight, he said "I have an ego like anybody else, but I don't need to be stoked by going before the public all the time." (Washington Post). I suppose many politicans are social introverts - "You have to really like people," the Honourable John Manley, former Minister of Finance of Canada told me at a conference, "You have to be a people-person, as you will always be dealing with people." combine that with the policy work, memo and report exchanges, I guess it's true.

The most common combination we would expect are social extroverts and asocial introverts. People who are outward-looking to be sociable with others, and those who are inward-looking to be more reclusive from others.

Well I am very secure with myself, and comfortable in my thoughts. I suppose that's how I can be comfortable in such a different surrounding like Hong Kong, with mostly local friends. As I do not judge or value myself on the company I keep or the people surrounding me or the pass-times I busy myself with others. But it's not without support, family and family friends here have been most instrumental in helping me settle in.

I was on the tram (double-decker cable-car) last week, on my way to see an old friend here on her birthday. I sat at the front, separated from others sitting at the back. I thought it was funny how this can describe my life - separated from others but on my way somewhere. Alone without feeling apart. Destined with others, but by myself on the journey. And I don't mind it all - I am enjoying the ride.



I think that's how it is to be introvertive. I don't know - this is the only life I've known. Introverts are inward-looking - for identity, strength, support. Extroverts are the outward looking - for identity, strength, support. I imagine the ones on the buses yapping on the cellphone to pass the time on the bus are extroverts. I imagine people at restaurants complaining to the waitress about the bill not caring what others think are introverts. But this says nothing about the sociability (word?) of the person.

I am just as happy sharing beers or coffee with friends and colleagues as I am pondering life's lessons or practicing Chinese writing. And with others it is less about what others think about me than what I think about me. I have made as many admirers as I have foes, and as many nay-sayers as I have supporters, and as many friends as those who couldn't care. I guess that's how I can be comfortable with the locals here, enjoying their company so much. So much to learn about myself and how I communicate, as well as about a different culture and different people.

So we drank late into the night on Thursday, in Tsim Sha Tsui. We had a bar-b-q the next day by the beach celebrating a friend's birthday, followed by Mah Jong at a friend's place. Followed by a two-day Sea Cadet camping trip at a Nautical Center, where I learned two things: how to Canoe, and how Canoeing is more difficult than it looks.

Seriously.
More than a day after, and I am freakin' sore.