Awkward interests me, he said. At least when you are feeling awkward you are always thinking. When you are feeling fabulous, for example, rare occurrence that it may be, you stop thinking altogether. Which gets you into all kinds of trouble. Hence, you are for the better off feeling awkward. Just the sound of it on your tongue. Like chewing on screws.

А еще все англичане при встрече с неангличанами на ступеньках, на терассе перед нашей спальней и вообще хоть где показывают большой палец. Не путать со средним пальцем. Большой палец - мол, все ок, чувак, мол, не знаю, поймешь ли ты, если я открою рот со своим мэйби да и прочими непроизносимыми звуками, но я дружелюбен и вот показываю тебе палец, чтоб сообщить тебе хоть что-то, не можем же мы постоянно молчать.

She thought in would be awkward for both to be brought into conscious collision; and fancied that, from her being on a low seat at first, and now standing behind her father, he had overlooked her in his haste. As if he did not feel the consciousness of her presence all over, though his eyes had never rested on her!

It's only awkward if it matters.

You see, I am not very good in company. I am clumsy. I am shy. [...] I always say the wrong thing. I upset water jugs. I am unlucky."
"We all do these things when we are young. The poise, the savoir faire, comes later.

My forte is awkwardness.