University

If you do not believe in destiny, then boy / girl do I have a story for you. So, I've been trying to get out of a conference presentation for some time now. First, I said that I don't have enough time to whittle my paper down to the required length. Then, I got a sinus infection (when one's nose got constantly broken, this is a result; kids, don't let your noses get broken. A public service announcement by Omar). Then I started doubting myself and convincing myself that no one cared about my work and that my day would be better spent tending my date palms.

Well, I started my second year of graduate school last week. I'm pretty blue about the whole thing, but more on that later. Today, I have an important subject to broach with the fine ladies here. 

Here's part one of the issue: when I walk around campus, I am usually wearing shorts or docker-style trousers with a button down shirt and sandals. I wear a mustache and am balding on the top like many fine Italian gentlemen. I'm a little on the short side. I like the way I look: definitely grad student, even professor-like at time, but this is a double edged sword.

Here's part two: there are a very large number of young women on campus who are quite fine (I get the understatement of the year award, no?). At least once I day I'll pass by one of them who smiles at me and looks me in the eye flirtatiously and we'll exchange hellos while another time a young woman may look straight ahead while grinning widely and pulling down her shirt over her bare belly to cover her hips. Sometimes this happens without me ever even glancing at them. I'm not sure how to interpret it; thus my question. Are these young women two different cases? I mean, are some of them flirting while others think I look so goofy it causes them to laugh at me?