Approaching people

[Barzan]

The problem is she's completely surrounded when she sits down, but I was thinking of asking her how she did on the test.

That's a good start. It's still a good idea to introduce yourself properly. Not everyone was trying to catch their crush's name -- she might not even know yours.

Take the lead, make her feel un-threatened, and be gentle. Try to get her to do most of the talking by asking her open-ended questions about herself.

What kind of surname did she have? Was it Chinese, Japanese, Korean, other?

Honestly, it didn't even sound asian. I'm not sure what it sounded like, but it wasn't asian to my ears

Ah, maybe she's half Asian? Who knows.

Anyhow, since she's shy, you can't expect to bang her on the third date, like some people would have you believe is the norm. (Maybe with some more outgoing girls, I dunno...) You want to get her to go out for coffee or something where it's just the two of you and open-up. I remember this gorgeous Korean girl in a class of mine. She never said a word to anyone. She was so shy, but so beautiful. I finally talked to her one day and we went to lunch. She opened-up and was so fun and sweet, she was just terrified of large groups and of talking in front of strangers. I miss her...if I could replay that hand...

[Neu California]

What I learned today: I have zero sense of opportunity.

The prof arrived rather early today (probably due to leaving early because of the fog), and we got in quickly. I sat down, and before long Anna arrived, and was looking at the group assignments (while the prof was putting them up) I joined her, and about a dozen other people, before figuring out two things:
1. Anna was up there for a longer time than anyone else, save me
2. My name was not on the sheet.

We could've exchanged a few words if I had been thinking. Then again, if I had been thinking I would'vd asked the prof about that.

Fast forward to the end of class. I worked my way past her and about 13 other people to reach to prof, to find another group member was telling her about the issue. I turned to leave when I heard my name. The conversation went something like this:

Prof: Are you in Anna's group?
Group member: No I'm in Alex's group (my real name)
Me: (stops dead, turns head slowly, sees a WTF look on Anna's face) Yeah I didn't see my name up there either.
Prof: (looks over sheet, notices that there's Alexis, Alexia, but no Alex (the case of too many Alex's)) Maybe I left it at home (digs through papers with names on them) oh, Alex right? You're doing paranoid schizophrenia.
My group: Oh, thank you. (me wanders off in search of food, instead of sticking around like I meant to)

BTW, her last name came back to me. What kind of origins does Nochi(e?) have?

[Barzan]

What I learned today: I have zero sense of opportunity.

The prof arrived rather early today (probably due to leaving early because of the fog), and we got in quickly. I sat down, and before long Anna arrived, and was looking at the group assignments (while the prof was putting them up) I joined her, and about a dozen other people, before figuring out two things:
1. Anna was up there for a longer time than anyone else, save me
2. My name was not on the sheet.

We could've exchanged a few words if I had been thinking. Then again, if I had been thinking I would'vd asked the prof about that.

Fast forward to the end of class. I worked my way past her and about 13 other people to reach to prof, to find another group member was telling her about the issue. I turned to leave when I heard my name. The conversation went something like this:

Prof: Are you in Anna's group?
Group member: No I'm in Alex's group (my real name)
Me: (stops dead, turns head slowly, sees a WTF look on Anna's face) Yeah I didn't see my name up there either.
Prof: (looks over sheet, notices that there's Alexis, Alexia, but no Alex (the case of too many Alex's)) Maybe I left it at home (digs through papers with names on them) oh, Alex right? You're doing paranoid schizophrenia.
My group: Oh, thank you. (me wanders off in search of food, instead of sticking around like I meant to)

BTW, her last name came back to me. What kind of origins does Nochi(e?) have?

Her name sounds Japanese, but I'd have to hear it or see it spelled correctly in order to tell for sure.

You really need to stay after class. You could have talked to her about the group assignments. During class, your only concern is class. After class is dismissed, then you go talk to Anna -- don't worry about it during. It would be awkward and inappropriate to ask her out during class anyway. You could, of course, have tried to get her in your group, say, if she was without a group or something. You would act nonchalantly as if you were doing her a favour. But not yet, you don't need to try those things out yet.