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.