I had the most basic conversation take an unpredictable turn today. I was working on switching the stereos from my old and new cars when an Arab family (which looked wealthy), pulled up and asked my leave to answer questions about the apartments. I will try to reconstruct some of the dialogue, but first the setting. Father in driver seat (far side), mother in passenger seat (near me, I am speaking into the passenger window), and college age daughter in passenger side rear seat.
Father (F): Excuse me, do you know where the office is, are they even open, we are looking for an apartment.
Mother (M): (quickly explaining) For our daughter!
Andy (A): The office is on the crest of the hill, they are not open on weekends, you should try back on Monday.
(F): How much are the apartments here? Do they have one bedroom?
(A): They run about $450, but if your daughter is a student, she can get subsidized housing with HUD and it will be much less.
(M): Oh yes, she’s a student! Are the apartments nice?
(A): Yes they are better than most, and having the section 8 available is good too.
Daughter (D): Is there any way to take a look at one? To see what it looks like?
(A): Uh, you better ask the office for a tour.
(F): So how long do you wait for the apartments?
(A): If you go for a 2 bedroom, the wait is half as long as a 1 bedroom?
(M): Is it ok that she lives in a 2 br by herself?
(D): Yeah, I’m not going to have anyone else living with me!
(A): (Hmmm…) I don’t see why not.
(F): And she will be just at school, she has no income is that ok?
(A): (thinking, should I just make an offer to take her into my home or what??) You should really just talk to the office.
(D): We’re glad we found you, there doesn’t seem to be anyone else around.
(A): No problem, you have a nice day.
(D): You too!!

That is the best I remember the words, but the entire situation just felt so much like it was swinging from asking about apartments to appealing me to their daughter. It was very awkward.