Subway station manager

One day on my way back from grocery shopping while I was still new to my neighborhood, I got off the train and headed towards the gate to get out of the subway. On my way out of the subway, I looked up and accidentally made eye contact with the subway train station that was on duty that day. 

Now in NYC, people rarely made eye contacts. If everyone were to be making eye contacts with everyone; our eyes would have been really dry and our smiles would have gotten really stiff just on an early train ride to work alone. Needless to say, being polite making eye contacts and smiling is sort of...impractical here.

But at that moment, it was too late for me to pretend I didn't see him or act awkward. So I gave him one big grin and waved my hand to acknowledge the eye contact we made. It was almost like a ceremony to establish a new friendship. He gave me a nice big smile and waved back.

Ever since then, it has been our way of exchanging well wishes every time when we run into each other. 

The train was down every weekend for about 4 months last year so he was working outside the train station to direct travelers for the shuttle bus. I ran into him once one of those weekends and he even gave me a hug!

Anyways, it has been kind of fun and now I can say I have a friend in the subway business.