What was once an interaction with tolerable coworkers forced us to endure an awkward car ride. A silent ride until I asked him table talk questions. He learned I wasn't as weird and awkward as he thought I was. I learned he wasn't as clueless and careless as I thought him to be. We connected over our shared love for our cultures, our passion to give back, and each other's resilience through life. With time, we learned we had been living parallel lives. Sparking an emotional connection.