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.