aeturnum

I realized a while ago that I have no idea how to talk to people I don't know. I'm a pretty typical introvert: I have a small circle of friends and spend time doing things that interest me (reading, games, school). But the friends I've had for years (high school mostly) are starting to drift apart and I've realized I want to / have to make new ones.

I have no problem with the begining of a conversation - I introduce myself, ask about the person's major (safe bet at college), maybe how things are going and then...what? It seems too heavy-handed to launch into some political / philosophical diatribe, but I don't really know what else to do. Most all of my social interaction goes on with close friends, and I'm a fish out of water at first meetings.

Note - I'm not asking about business-related relationships, but personal ones. I'm trying to figure out if the other person is on the same "wavelength" as I am, not sell myself to them.

How do you talk to new people?