Last Tuesday at work, a new face was sitting at the communal computer in my office. Since we normally settle our visitors down at that computer, I thought that she was only another of those guests. I had things to do at my computer, and after we greeted each other I settled into my routine, plugged the earphones into my ears to listen to music while doing the work. It was going to be just another normal day, but to my surprise the visitor started cleaning the empty desk next to mine some time after 16:00. Only then did it dawn on me that she was a new colleague! I took off my earphones in no time and introduced myself to her while apologising for being impolite for the whole day. She smiled and told me that she had wanted to talk to me earlier but decided against it since I had my earphones on. I felt a little awkward because I certainly didn't mean to be cool towards her and I'm hardly that type of person! I only wanted to keep myself wakeful and alert at the computer with the