Summarize the following:
Bringing up a mutual friend in your conversation will help you to draw a personal connection to the girl, even if you don't know her well. She will feel more at ease, as you will no longer seem like a complete stranger! Having a common friend also gives you something (or someone) to talk about.  Try saying something like "I've heard you're good friends with Allison. How do you two know each other?" Or "Oh so you know Dan? We go way back! He's hilarious, isn't he?" Bringing up a shared experience -  whether it's working as a volunteer or growing up on a farm - helps to create a personal connection between the two of you and establishes the beginning of a bond.  If you realize that you both grew up on a farm, you could say something like "No way! Me too! The worst part was the early mornings, my Dad would get me up at 5 a.m. everyday during the summer to help out! What was it like for you?" If you both worked on volunteer projects you could say something like "I thought it was a really rewarding experience. What inspired you to get involved?" Asking the girl an unusual or thought-provoking question will break the ice and allow the girl to speak her mind. It will give the girl a chance to express herself while you make a good impression for asking such an interesting question in the first place. Win-win!  Try something like "If you could be an animal, what type of animal would you be?" Or something like "What are the top five places you want to visit before you die?" Or maybe "Would you ever consider doing a skydive?" Discovering that you have a shared interest is conversational gold and will really help you to start establishing a bond with the girl. It doesn't matter what the interest is - be it reading, running, rowing or rock-climbing - what matters is that it's something you share.  If you discover that you both like running you could ask her what her favorite local routes are, or if she's ever considered training for a marathon. If you both like reading, you could ask her who her favorite author is or what she thought of a recent film adaption of a well-known novel. If it's something really quirky, ask her how she first got involved with it and compare stories! If things are going well and the two of you seem to be hitting it off, it might be time to get a little more personal. Remember that the aim is to show that you're interested in her and want to get to know her better, not to make her feel uncomfortable. Don't ask her anything that you wouldn't feel comfortable answering yourself.  Keep it positive! Don't ask her what her greatest fear or biggest secret is, ask her about her hopes for the future or where she sees herself in ten years. Leave it up to her whether she wants to answer seriously or keep it light-hearted. Try asking her about her family, start with something simple and non-invasive like "Do you have any brothers or sisters?" If you want to find out if she's single, simply ask her "Are you seeing anybody right now?"

summary: Mention a Common Friend. Bring up a shared experience. Pose an interesting question. Mention a shared interest. Ask a personal question.


Summarize the following:
Traveling should be relaxing and enjoyable. If you want, it should also be full of adventures. Just make sure that your adventures come from things like climbing mountains, not staying in dubious lodgings.  Before you travel, take some time to do your research. Start by reading reviews. Read traveler reviews of every place you plan to stay. You want to know if other people experienced big problems like the heat not working or the doors not locking. Use a site like Trip Advisor. They post multiple reviews for every aspect of traveling. You want your vacation to be amazing. That's natural. But make sure to keep your expectations realistic.  Try not to get upset if something goes wrong. For example, don't consider the whole trip ruined if one of your adventures gets rained out. Plan to have a good time. But be ready to laugh it off if something unexpectedly goes awry. Maybe you're traveling in New York, and the restaurant lost your reservation. That's disappointing, but it's also a great excuse to try a slice of famous NYC pizza. Take a true time out when you are on vacation. Try not to be tethered to your phone or laptop. Avoid the urge to check your e-mail multiple times a day.  Don't check social media multiple times a day. Try to enjoy your own experiences. Focus on being in the moment. Look around at your surroundings, and find somewhere new to explore. Relax and enjoy. Make an effort to forget about work and responsibilities. You're on vacation!
summary: Do your research. Manage your expectations. Disconnect from technology.