IN: So I got a call a couple days ago from the assistant dean of admissions for the Flora Thorntan School of Music at USC , personally calling me to talk about financial aid and my admission to USC . Unfortunately I had already commited to Cal State Long Beach . Still and all , it was really cool to have him call me personally and talk to me . I felt really good about it and sad that I could n't accept there .
Why did the assistant dean call this person ?

OUT: They wanted to speak about their application .

IN: The airplane ride was rather uneventful . I sat next to an older Japanese man but we did n't talk and in fact I do n't think we even made eye contact the whole 12 hours of flight . ( I ' ve noticed that people on the trains in Tokyo do n't make eye - contact either and people rarely start up conversations with strangers . )
What may be the reason people in Japan do nt start conversations ?

OUT: They are shy and do nt want to look foolish speaking english .

IN: It has also stayed determinedly on my hands , such that my nails are blue and the skin between my left thumb and index finger will not stop being blue no matter how many times I wash my hands . I wrote the fine print for the services the Computing Society intends to provide as fundraisers and today I went over it with the president of the society . Some of it can now be found on the Website . Huzzah !
What did the president think of your work ?

OUT:
The president was impressed with my work