Safety Ambassadors

First of all, I would like to state that I am very grateful for the Safety Ambassadors on campus. Although when initially introduced to the concept it seemed odd and simply a false sense of security, but in fact I am very grateful to their service and especially when walking me home during my 2p-2a or 3p-3a shifts. I have encountered various people, from one end of the spectrum to another.

One gentleman was very quiet as he was walking me home. The situation of someone escorting you home can always be a little awkward. I mean what do you say to a stranger? I hate making small talk...especially late at night when all I want to do is sleep. But then is it okay just not to talk while walking beside someone for 20 minutes or so? Hmm....well one guy kinda nodded towards me and once walking beside him went at a face pace towards my destination. I tried to say hi, which was recripocated with a gruff. I was okay with this since I didn't really want to talk anyways. Midway towards our walk in silence and a fast pace, especially for 3:45am I felt we had bonded due to our common desire for silence. Thence, I decided to break this silence by asking when he got off or how long he was working...something in an attempt to make small talk. He looked at me in what appeared to be digust or annoyance and made a comment something to the degree of he works until he's done. Thanks. So that ended my one encounter when I said thank you and turned to wave good-bye he simply left. Yes.

My second encounter happened tonight, to a quiet friendly safety ambassador. He was quite talkative and although I tried to resist in a not mean way, he seemed nice. So he went on to explain how they work 16 hours a week every day with no breaks. That amazed me, since I think 12 hours is enough, although I must say I'm not entirely convincned of these consistently unethincal work standards. Anyways...then the awkward moment came. It began...am I shy?...secondary to me not talking at 3:30 in the morning and then what do I do when I'm not working? After trying to attempt to bow out by saying how busy I was visiting other people he offered me to visit him at his home. Nice. Very friendly. My sly comments of trying to avoid the subject were brought to light when he verbally concluded that I simply was not interested and don't want to visit him. Opps. This was thankfully 3/4th into our walk, but it made for an awkward couple of blocks until then...