Post by Evan Y Hacker 何艾文

A university in China once invited me to give a guest lecture. When I asked them what topic they wanted me to cover, their answer was: “Anything you want.” So I put together a presentation talking about life and culture in the United States. One section was about the NBA. I figured the students might find it interesting. What I didn’t expect was that many of them knew far more about the NBA than I did. I grew up watching basketball. They were naming players, teams, trades, and statistics I had no idea about. It was a good reminder that connecting with people usually starts with finding something you’re both interested in. Too often we focus on differences first. But relationships usually begin with common ground. I’ve found that to be true whether I’m teaching students, making friends abroad, or helping authors promote their books. People are often more alike than they first appear. You just have to be curious enough to get the conversation started. PS - Go Spurs tonight!