Samo's most awkward breakout room stories
By Kendra Martinez, Staff Writer
We’ve all had some awkward moments in online learning, from accidentally being unmuted to being called on while half asleep in bed. But breakout rooms are a completely different animal. The following are some of my most uncomfortable and awkward breakout room experiences.
Breakout Room 1:
I was put into a breakout room with two friends (and I realized they were friends because of the way their faces lit up when they saw each other). We were supposed to work on worksheets together and help one another. It was all fine until one of them brought up Robert Pattinson. That’s all they could talk about for the entire time. I just sat there awkwardly, occasionally asking a question or two, which would interrupt their discussion about Rob playing Batman. I didn’t have a problem with their conversation until one of them asked for my opinion on her shrine dedicated to Pattinson. It had flattering pictures of him, and not so flattering pictures. It even had a couple of the tall white candles with a meme of him taped to it. To say I was shocked would be an understatement. Thankfully, the breakout room closed before I could comment on it.
Breakout Room 2:
I’m sure everyone has experienced a breakout room where everyone’s mic and camera is off. But, have you experienced a chihuahua staring at you while you’re trying to factor binomials? Yeah, me neither. However, this kid did have a parrot who kept singing the lyrics to “I Want It That Way” by The Backstreet Boys while we were working through a problem. This poor kid was just trying to explain to me how to use synthetic division, but all I could hear was the parrot. To make matters worse, the parrot started reciting the script of Barbie and the Diamond Castle. Not to be judgemental or anything because we stan Barbie in this household, but one would have to watch that movie multiple times in order for the parrot to have it memorized. I could tell the kid was getting embarrassed because he was turning into a tomato. The parrot then proceeded to fly out of its cage and around the room. I think that’s when the kid finally reached his breaking point and shut off his camera and mic.
