He shook my hand twice and all I said was hi.
Jesse Jackson came to Regent’s today. He’s in England for something to get more black people to apply to Oxford. And since Regent’s is Baptist, we’re hosting a lot of the events. The first thing I could go to was a tea, followed by a question and answer session. Then I went to a worship service. He sort of said the same things at the question and answer session and in the service (which quite a bit of the sermon was very political), so the lecture tomorrow that I’m going to might have similar things too. But I’m going anyway. But at the tea, I was talking with Matt about revision classes for next term. And he came in, and he sort of came straight towards us, and shook our hands. Matt said, “He really sort of targeted us, didn’t he?” Which I guess we were standing somewhat in the middle of the room, so I don’t know if that was why or if we looked really American or if he heard our American accents and thought we would be good to shake hands with. Then later, I went to get some tea, and while I was waiting, he was standing a bit to my side, and he stepped forward and held out his hand again to me. I don’t know if my face is that forgettable or if I looked like I was wanting to ask him something. Which I was thinking about Kyle telling me I should get a picture with him. To which I said, I doubt I’ll be that close to him, I could just get one from far away. But of course, all I said was hi. I didn’t ask for a picture (which apparently somebody did, and they were told tomorrow they’re having professional pictures taken, which I guess we would have to pay for, so we can’t get our own). I also didn’t ask anything else. I couldn’t think of anything to ask. So I just said hi and smiled, like I always do. Not that I’m in that position that often, but sometimes I wish I wasn’t so shy. And I would take advantage of situations like that. I don’t know that much about Jesse Jackson, but still I wish I would have said something. Could have even just asked how he like Oxford. Sometimes I really frustrate myself. And I doubt tomorrow there will be another situation like that, so I missed my chance. Oh well. I still got to see him and hear him speak. And I got to meet him too. Twice.