COLUMN: Dating outside the box

Is dating all about getting ambushed?

I felt my most recent date was going to be some sort of trap. My editor usually does not give me a lot of background on my dates, but this participant’s self-portrait was so unique, my editor had to share some of the best parts with me.

Her application touched on her love of all things pirate themed, Star Wars and sloths. Either someone was setting me up, or this psychology major had to be the weirdest person on campus.

Do not mistake me; I love pirates as much as the next guy, and when I was little I had dreams of becoming a farmer or a Jedi. But I have never had these traits espoused by the opposite sex to get a date with me. As it turned out, her intrinsic quirkiness was her most enduring quality.

Our date took place on St. Patrick’s Day, and since I wasn’t sure of my date’s preferences, I decided to prepare options. I told her we could go bowling, get dinner or meet up with some friends of mine for cards and traditional holiday beverages. She opted for dinner.

This date seemed to progress as a typical date usually does. We enjoyed a delicious meal and a grueling interview. On this date, I realized the first date questioning is actually a giant trap. While there was probably equal opportunity for success and failure, I felt as if the suspenseful music before an ambush was playing the entire time. Not only did I feel as if my answers were getting tirelessly analyzed, but I felt I must be careful about what questions I asked.

For example, how hard would it be to recover if you asked a question about something that was traumatic in their life? Or what if you grossly offend their political or religious beliefs? While a lot of these topics are not really considered polite dinner conversation, sometimes they do come up, and how one navigates them can truly make or break an evening. And sometimes daters are totally oblivious to how they did until the end of the date.

Our date did not end with some awkward moment like in a romantic comedy, but I believe it ended well. When I dropped her off at her residence, she invited me in. Now, do not get the wrong idea — this is a “PG column” and there was no suspenseful porno music, but I decided to oblige her request.

We went into her room, and she showed me some of her more interesting trinkets, but for some reason, that suspenseful music started to play in my head again. Something was awry in McFadden, and I could sense it.

The next thing I knew, a barrage of marshmallow projectiles was assaulting my position.

We had been ambushed.

It was all in good humor and fun, and apparently her roommate had a tradition of doing this to boys she went on dates with, but this was definitely a first for me.

This date had a lot of enjoyable firsts for me, and reflecting on it, I realized why this girl was definitely out of my comfort zone. It is not that I avoid people like her, I just have a history of being the strange one in my group of friends.

However, most people date people they know and they are missing out. So, my third rule to college dating: Find ways to meet girls outside your normal circle. I guarantee you will get ambushed, but you don’t find treasure without

adventure.