Conversational Challenge (Day 3)

So with only having met one person yesterday (I was invited out to a restaurant mid-task and forgot, conveniently, to approach people there) I made myself a strong cup of coffee and set to the task.
The cast (in order of appearance) was Susie...Caroline...Alexander and Axel!
In the end it was strangely easy in a, for me, uncomfortable way. A lot like doing a forward roll. Easy to start, then suddenly hard to get to the crunch point and with a mighty heave passing the point of no return emerging surprised and satisfied on the other side.
The easy part in starting was made easier by a lady called Susie, vacationing in Berlin for the summer from California. She was refreshingly happy to chat to me and we managed a lively conversation together about our experiences in Berlin and about language learning in particular.
But afterwards and sensing the whiff of my own anxiety I made off to buy a JD Salinger book and left with all the fear pigeons home to roost. A perambulating statue with pigeon poo on my head.
With effort though I plucked up enough courage to speak to a girl called Caroline. At this point I was glad to have borrowed Remi's socks as I had run out this morning and would have had to come out bare foot.
She told me about her work as a translator and about her arts and social welfare project, and her patience led me back up the garden path somewhat. I realised at this point how my nervousness was making my co-conversers nervous too, and resolved to enjoy myself more and help my impromptu companions be more at ease.
We made pleasant farewells and off I walked.
And I happened upon Alexander Schmidt, who engagingly revealed himself to be a Life Coach, and ambassador of fear fighting! He was intrigued by my task and found what I was doing inspiring. He is hoping to run coaching classes in the nearby area. I hope to go along and perhaps also collaborate. And as you might expect, talking with him helped tempt my fear falcon down to the ground.
And feeling good in what I had achieved I allowed myself to finally relax and floated back down Immanuelkirsch Strasse towards my temporary abode. Close to home I happened upon a tall bearded man with sunglasses and headphones on.
Almost laconically, I engaged him in a small conversation. Axel, a pastry chef. He was the last person I chatted to and it was easier as I was no longer feeling nervous. In his mirrored glassy gaze I was happy to look at myself chatting away and as I turned away as he departed for work I gave myself a little hug.
I don't really want to anaylse why I feel so anxious to approach people as the reason I suspect is "because I am". I have let my fearlessness flag fall down the pole in recent times, and what you don't do you lose.
Angst had been on the menu dear reader, but anything but spoon fed-up I feel good to have sampled some of life's delicacies today. It leaves me wanting to do it again. It seems to have a life of its own, a momentum. Like in a forward roll, you can feel the tug of it, pulling you through to the end.
Watch this space as tomorrow I take on a new challenge, and keep up my strict diet of a Fear-a-Day.

Day two: nein nein nein

I fall flat at the first fence! Remembering that I had recently survived an aborted muggery my conscience (or fear-evasion) bade me pedal across town to the police station, where I suggested to the officers that I had "information". Unable to disguise their mirth, they questioned me in much the same manner as you would question an intelligent and talking frog: with a massive sense of wonder but with a supressed humour. The man in question had not robbed me, but had "looked like" he was about to. This was sounding strange to even me now, but afterwards I was glad I had gone. I managed to chat to a stranger! Trevan, who was at the Nick having not had enough money to pay his bill at the petrol station, had a "real reason" to be there. Damn those chubby coppers. I was too late for the museum, but resolved to go stranger hunting when I got back.
But on returning home opportunity knocked and Remi invited me to Les Copains, the french restaurant where he worked last year, and we had a nice Moroccan meal with Guillaume his friend and sat outside drinking wine from Bordeaux. It is more plush in West Berlin where we were. It was a lovely evening, and the restaurant paid for us, which was extremely generous of them. And my eyes were practically falling off, a full day of german learning and flat hunting had my head booked off to sleeping land before i had reached the zzz's.
Demain, dans le matin! I will make amends and meet my four stangers that i have left to meet. And what? Noone has any ideas for me to try? Well, I will think of something.

Day Two: Petrify me!

So, the first thing I thought is scary (at 12:16 am on Day 1 of this Trialathalon) is for oneself not to choose what oneself does...
So in the gainful light of this idea, here is a list of what for me would be scary things and I would like you to pick which ones I do and nominate a day:
1. Be a nudist and chat to a nudist person
2. Attend a Mother and Baby hour
3. Go Busking in Alexander Platz
4. Attend a Fetish Party
5. Act in a Play (go to first rehearsal)
6. Sing in a Choir (ditto)
7. Go to a Gay Club
8. Go Speed Dating
9. Become published at a Human Library (be a human book that people take out to ask questions)
10. Your worst fear
Right, enough said, and today it is with a rising sense of dread but a soaring sense of anticipation that I announce to myself This Moment that while at the art gallery or out and about in Berlin today I engage 5 strangers in a friendly conversation.
So please get involved and feel free to manipulate me. I am the experimental gerbil of destiny and have no choice in the matter!

Day One: Cry Me a Blogger

And then I had the idea what if I make sure every day I do something I am genuinely scared of... And write about it in a blog, and call it Show Me the Worry! And what then? After the idea...
Surely the first thing to do would be to create the blog, the Media, there would be no escaping then. And that would be scary, right? And wouldn't that be the first scary task to do on the first day of this trialathalon? Create the WatchDog, the Bull Dog, the Running Mate? So here I am at my keyboard committing myself to do one REALLY scary thing each day for the next however farever long and I can't tun back as this blog is now watching me...
I am S.C.A.R.E.D. Really.