How do you get to know someone?

On a recent hike I overheard some girls chatting about where they went to college and what each others' major was, where they were from, etc. This mild eavesdropping made me realize that I hate those questions. If you really want to get to know someone make them think. Ask them what their dreams are, what they've always wanted to do, what's stopping them, how they feel about what they have done in their lives (not just where it was they did it or for how long). The better the questions the better the answers.

You'll likely make a new friend in one deep conversation over of a bunch of shallow encounters. And the person that you ask these questions of will be forced to think about their life and what they really want to do with it. They will thank you!

People are interesting they just need to know someone is interested.