Takeaways

Key takeaways from this semester:

Classes should have more field trips - even though I got two parking tickets.
Canoeing is awesome.
Grades are overrated.

This is a lighthearted list of things I enjoyed over the semester. Each one has affected my learning experience in this course. Class excursions have the capacity to foster learning in an alternative way than the traditional classroom setting.

The canoeing trip was the first class excursion. This field trip reminded me to appreciate simple things - like clean water, electricity, easy access to food - that millions of people unfortunately do not have. I did not anticipate how far we would canoe down the Trinity River. For the first hour, I casually paddled and talked with my canoe partner. As time passed, I wondered how much farther we would go. I was ready for the trip be over because I had an exam the following morning. I needed to study. At that moment, I realized I had a similar mindset to the people who toss trash in the river. People may feel "too busy" to find a trash can, so they simply toss garbage on the ground - eventually making its way to the water. After I realized this, I became relaxed. I began to reflect as my canoe partner and I floated along the surface. Bottles filled the surface of the water.

Why do people not take enough time to enjoy nature?
Is it really that hard to find a trash can?
Was that a couch?

This field trip reminded me to appreciate simple things - like clean water, electricity, easy access to food - that millions of people unfortunately do not have. Class excursions have the capacity to foster learning in an alternative way than the traditional classroom setting. They also stress the importance of development and growth rather than focusing on grades, which students, professors, and universities get caught up in. For this reason, I think more classes should incorporate field trips.

Meeting #6

Well the last few weeks of the semester are finally here. Essa texted me to see if I would help him with an essay. I used to work at the TCU Writing Center, so I have experience working with international students. Focusing on big picture issues – thesis, organization, and style – is one of the hardest things to do when helping a foreign student with a paper. This is because the essays are usually filled with many grammatical and mechanical errors. Before addressing the miniscule issues, I attempt to help the student focus on the overall claims and the organization of the paper. I do not tutor people as much I used to, so I was excited to help Essa with his paper; I miss the satisfaction of helping students enhance their written communication. As a bonus, Essa offered to cook me food – which swayed my decision.

I walked over to his apartment – less than a minute walk from my apartment – and we began reading over his essay. It was merely a rough draft and it was not entirely complete. I reviewed his essay and gave him some suggestions. Afterwards, he offered me tea and pasta. His wife was not at the apartment, so I didn’t get the chance to meet her. While we feasted on pasta and shared our plans for Christmas break. He told me of his plans to fish with his father and eat home-cooked food. Essa also planned on bringing some spices back to America that are not sold here.

I’m not really sure how we got on the topic, but we began talking about speeding tickets. He told me a story about when he got one in California. Luckily, I have never gotten a speeding ticket. However, I have received 2 parking tickets – both on our class field trip excursions. Essa then told me a story about one of his friends in Saudi Arabia who got a ticket for exceeding the speed limit so much that he now has to work for the government until he pays off the debt, which seems a bit extreme.

Thinking back to the beginning of the semester, I was not 100% enthused about having to meet six times with a conversation partner simply because it seemed too time consuming. However, I am glad to say that this experience has been memorable and beneficial in several ways. I’ve come to realize things that I did not expect to learn. Despite Essa and I’s numerous differences, we are incredibly similar. Essa’s background differs greatly from mine, but the pursuit of education brought us together. We are able to share knowledge, opinions, and guide each other towards mutual understanding of each other and, ultimately, our cultures. My knowledge of the Saudi Arabian culture was limited before meeting Essa.

Although it’s the end of the semester, I believe that many of us will continue to meet with our conversation partners next semester. We have created new friendships that will extend beyond the classroom.

Meeting #5

For our fifth meeting, Essa and I met on campus again. We met at the library and picked up where we left off in our previous conversation. Previously, Essa had invited me to a group discussion about religion with people of various beliefs and backgrounds. I planned on attending, but I had a previous commitment that required me to stay in Dallas for a few days. Sadly, I was unable to attend the group discussion. I asked Essa about what the group discussion was like. Like before, he said it as a group of people from various backgrounds and places who gather to discuss religious and philosophical topics: the meaning of life, afterlife, faith, god(s), etc. I really wanted to go, especially after my conversation with Essa last time we met. I thought we made great progress, discussing topics that were more in depth than previous conversations.

I think it’s good for people of different cultures and beliefs to discuss various topics in a friendly, open-minded environment. After all, that is what all of us are doing with our conversation partners. If we had no interest in learning about the other person, then the entire purpose of the conversation partner arrangement would be tarnished. Although this is a requirement for the course, I believe most students, if not all, in the class are genuinely interested in learning from a conversation partner. I have heard a number of students talk about their great experiences with their conversation partners: what they talked about, where their partner is from, similarities, differences, etc.

As the semester comes closer to its end, our time with our conversation partners is becoming more limited. At the beginning of the semester, it seemed as though we had all the time in the world to plan our six meetings. I began meeting with Essa relatively early in the semester and spaced out our meetings every few weeks. We only a have one required meeting left, and people are getting busier with school. Due dates for projects are coming closer and final exams are on the horizon. I told Essa about all of the things I have coming up, and he also elaborated on all the assignments he has coming up: a statistics exam and multiple essays. Essa has expressed the bus. He says classes are getting tougher and exams are drawing near. His wife, who is a student at the UNT Medical Center, is busy as well. Essa mentioned that he has to write a few essays by the end of the semester and asked if I could review it before he turned it in. I obliged and offered to help in any way. Essa and I also planned our next meeting. He wanted to cook a meal and introduce me to his wife, if she is not a class. I look forward to meeting her and eating more of Essa’s delicious cooking.

Meeting #4

          I met Essa at the steps of the library. We walked over to the fountain between the library and Winston Scott and sat on the edge. I think a lot of people forget that a fountain is there. We talked about how the semester was going. I told him about my extremely busy schedule filled with exams and projects. In addition to school, I told Essa about my internship, which dramatically increases the craziness of my schedule. Essa told me that his classes were alright, but he was struggling with his statistics class. He was upset about making careless errors on his exam, which resulted in a decrease of a whole letter grade. He knows the mistakes he made and seemed motivated to do better on the next exam.

We sat by the water fountain for an hour. Towards the end of our discussion, we were talking about religion. Although we have different beliefs, we were able to have a friendly conversation, with both of us keeping an open-mind and listening actively. Instead of digging into the roots of our perspectives, we focused more on the importance of developing a personal belief – as opposed to blindly accepting a principle without consideration. We agreed that it is imperative for every person to find his or her own reasons for accepting or denying a philosophy. Then, Essa told me about a group meeting he attends every few weeks that engages in religious and philosophical conversations. The purpose of the group discussions is to learn about other people beliefs in a judgment-free environment and consider alternative perspectives from people of various cultures and backgrounds. I expressed my interest in participating in the group discussion, so Essa invited me to the next meeting.

            Learning about unfamiliar cultures and beliefs is important because it expands understanding, fosters acceptance, and counteract false assumptions. People tend to fear what is unknown or unfamiliar. Misunderstanding can lead to inaccurate conclusions and, potentially, hostility. Education is imperative because it exposes students to a wide range of opinions and perspectives. It enables people compare their beliefs with others, who may have a unique and alternative perception of the same concept. Furthermore, international education offers an even greater opportunity to give students a direct experience with unfamiliar cultures. The EIP program is an excellent example, as it encourages students of differing cultures, perspectives, and experiences to share knowledge and opinions in a friendly environment. Foreign and American students benefit from this exchange, and friendships emerge.

            I have met with Essa four times now, and our discussions have grown more insightful each time. I believe our relationship is evolving. At first we only discussion surface level topics: school, family, and food. This fifth meeting proves that we now feel comfortable talking about subjects controversial in nature that others might hesitate to discuss. Trust and understanding are the cornerstone of these types of conversations. Otherwise, people will feel self-conscious and influenced by the reactions of the conversation partner. As I go forward in this relationship with my conversation partner, I will try my best to keep an open-mind and learn as much as possible from Essa. We have a unique opportunity to share knowledge and opinions – an opportunity that many students do not have. I plan to make the most of it. 

Meeting #3

As I was shopping at Tom Thumb, I ran into my conversation partner, Essa. I knew we lived close to each other, so it was not entirely surprising that I saw him. We saw each other as we went towards the check-out line. I usually buy the same items, going through my usual college routine of peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, eggs, and chicken. Essa had a wider variety of foods: noodles, spices, various meets, and more. He told that he and his wife like to cook. I asked about what he was going to cook with all the different things in his shopping cart, and he describe the dish in every detail, going step by step. After eating the food he cooked for the conversation partner social, I think that Essa could be a chef. I am particularly excited because Essa has promised to cook me more food. He assured me that his pasta dishes and lintel cuisines are especially delicious. Essa is extremely passionate about cooking, which is good because I really enjoy eating.

Similar to most cultures, food seems to be an important aspect of Essa’s background. The spices, noodles, rice, tea, coffee, and meat that he cooks with combine to create a distinct set of flavors that are unique to his family’s recipes. Essa does not eat pork due to his religious affiliation – Islam. Looking into his shopping cart, I noticed that we had a lot of the same food. After previously eating Essa’s cooking, I know that he only uses a few ingredients that combine for a delightful taste. I think it is interesting how many different combinations someone can cook the same ingredients, simply by preparing them in different ways. I am not much of a cook. Grilling is a pastime of mine, but there is not much skill to it. Essa’s approach to cooking is authentic, passionate, and much more complex than throwing a slab of meat on the grill. Essa told me that he learned his cooking style from his family – mostly his grandmother. He learned a variety of recipes over several years and with much practice. This is something that I hope to do. Every time I go home for a holiday, I attempt to learn a new recipe – most of which are relatively simple and difficult to mess up. For example, I learn how to cook my grandmother’s famous – within the family – breaded chicken with sauce when I went home for Fall Break. It's not a particularly difficult meal to cook, but I am nonetheless proud of my accomplishment. If I learn to cook a few new cuisines every couple months, I’ll have quite the repertoire when I graduate from college. Maybe Essa can teach me one of his recipes... I would probably mess up the first few attempts, but I think it would be a great way to expand my understanding of his culture. Additionally, I could teach him how to cook an American recipe. I'm from Tennessee, and my family prides itself on Southern comfort food. I think Essa would like to learn a new recipe; I'll ask him.

Meeting #2

My second meeting with my conversation partner, Essa, was at the EIP conversation partner social. I left work and made my way to the TCU recreation center. As I walked out to the patio, I could smell the aroma from pizza and ethnic foods on the table. Essa cooked a rice and chicken dish (I forgot the name of the cuisine), which he strongly encouraged me to try. Since I can eat pizza any time, I grabbed a plate and headed straight for the rice and chicken. After I helped myself to a handsome serving of food, I sat down with Essa and one of his friends. We talked about various subjects, mostly school related issues. Essa discussed the classes he was taking and exams that were coming up. School seems to be one of the biggest adjustments for Essa. His strongest subject is math, but he struggles with his statistics class. It must be hard, as an international student, studying and attending classes in a second language. I can empathize to some extent with Essa. When I studied abroad in the summer after my freshman year, I listened to lectures from native Hungarians, Czechs, and Austrians. Although the lecturers spoke in English – though very rough –, it was still difficult to understand what they were saying. The subject I was studying – international politics – was complex enough, so the language barrier created an even more difficult learning environment. I am sure that Essa’s situation is on a more extreme level. His English is actually pretty good, but he does have trouble now and then finding the appropriate word. He said the language barrier does make school difficult sometimes. He noted that writing essays are particularly difficult. I told Essa, if he ever needed help, not hesitate to ask me, especially for writing assignments; I used to work at the Writing Center and spent a fair amount of time helping international students.

I enjoyed the conversation partner lunch party because I had the opportunity to mingle with other international students, many of whom experience the same challenges and trials of studying in a foreign country. As a student in an unfamiliar place, spending time with those similar to you is an easy and comfortable decision. Meeting people from different backgrounds and speaking in a second language probably intimidates many foreign students. The IEP program is useful and effective because it fosters the intermingling of students from different backgrounds and encourages students to learn about different cultures. Events like the lunch party are enjoyable and they reinforce the idea of meeting new people. I am not sure if there are going to be more events like this. Regardless, I think they are a positive way of engaging social activity of all students. Putting myself in the shoes of the foreign students, I would find it quite intimidating to interact with English speaking students, especially if I was not comfortable speaking the language. People find strength in numbers, so a setting with many students – foreign and American – interacting is ideal for the less confident. Furthermore, I think social gatherings like the lunch part create a relaxed environment for American students. We get to talk with our conversation partners AND interact with other international students; it is a great opportunity for everyone.

Running Along the Trinity

Running Along the Trinity

I am no longer gasping for air, and my heart rate is finally back to normal. I ran along the Trinity River less than 30 minutes ago. I live off of Hulen street, so the Trinity River Trails are just across the street. I embarked on my night run at about 10:00 p.m. with my roommate, Luke. Luke and I try to go on runs whenever we have the time, but this school year has been extremely busy. All I nothing but time to kill during my first two semesters. But now, I feel as if there are not enough hours during the day. I am constantly going to class, studying, or working, with only a few hours – if any- of leisure time a day. Consequently, I have not been able to go on many runs recently, which is unfortunate since running is one of my favorite activities. However, I completed a lot of work during the day and had a solid hour to go for a run with Luke.

The first thing we noticed was the weather. It was a breezy 79 degrees, which felt absolutely amazing. We crossed the Hulen and made our way over to the trail. On our entire run, I saw one man on a bike and two boys accompanied by their dogs; we were essentially the only people on the trail. It was nice to be free of worry that a hardcore cyclist was going to plow into me. Once we got in stride and set our pace, Luke and I talked about various things: school, friends, etc. Then, Luke noticed a sign, which attempted to explain the construction process to those who use the trails; the signs are just a method of informing the public of future plans. This sign claimed to be restoring the river to its natural flow paths. Luke laughed at it, saying that it was false and the sign was an attempt to make all the construction efforts seem more nature friendly than it really was. The sign also noted that they – those constructing – would add to areas to prevent flooding. Luke conceded that flooding is bad for populated areas, but he also added that flooding is natural phenomenon. I’m an expert on the environmental impacts of flooding, but I know that fire is thought to be a negative environmental phenomenon even though it is actually good for the environment – not in excessive amounts of course. So, maybe floods – in unpopulated areas – every now and then are good or maybe not; I honestly do not know.

Much to Dr. Williams’ liking I’m sure, we actually talked about water. I’m actually not even sure how we got on the topic, but I told Luke about some of the discussions we’ve had in class. He was particularly surprised by some of the random statistics I remembered from The Big Thirst – numbers regarding how much water we use and waste. I couldn’t help but realize – again – how lucky we are to have such easy and cheap access to clean water. Even though the Trinity is not aesthetically pleasing or clean, many other river systems around the world are much worse. When I see picture and videos of the Ganges River, I can’t help but think, “How stupid and irresponsible of the people to pollute their river like that.” I then remembered the trash we saw on the canoe trip and thought, “How do we let this happen?” If we – Americans – don’t change the way we treat our rivers, then we may end up with water as bad as the Ganges River.

We ran to the newly built hospital, turned around, and headed back to our apartment. It was relatively dark the entire run. I have bad eyes anyway, so all I could see was the river, trees, and lights from the city. The hospital is very modern looking, and it looks pretty cool at night – see the picture. As I was running, my thirst was growing and I pondered over the terrible quality of the Trinity water. If I was literally dying of thirst, would drinking from the Trinity River actually make matters worse? It’s weird to think about because I am sure people used to drink directly from that river hundreds of years ago. Now, even considering drinking from the Trinity is absurd. I think this is pathetic.

 After finally arriving back at the apartment, my first action was to get a drink of water. Even after thinking and talking about water for the entirety of my run, I was completely naïve when I filled my cup with water from the sink. We are extremely fortunate to be so water-rich in a world that is water-poor.