The Second Time Around

Conversation Partner Meeting (2)

Scheduling a meeting with my partner was much easier this week! We picked our usual, if you can call two meetings usual, meeting spot, Union Grounds.  We’re still getting to know each other so I keep learning new things about him. For example, he lives with his cousin who is the same age and is also in the program. Along with several other students in the program, they explore the DFW area.  He has so much to say about the places he has been around here and his idea of the best restaurants. For those of you who are curious, Arlington is the place to go for Saudi Arabian cuisine. But, I did learn that they go out to eat often because he cannot cook – he leaves it all up to his cousin. But, when his cousin cooks, he Skypes his mom and follows her directions! I thought this was so funny and relatable. While he quickly explained it is because in his culture women do not work, I found it funny for different reasons. I know that when my brother goes to college he will be helpless. My mom still makes her eighteen-year-old son snacks!

If there is one thing about my conversation partner it is his love for movies. He is a huge movie buff and appreciates quality directors, actors, and producers. Christopher Nolan (Dark Night) is among his favorites. We usually spend the majority of our meetings talking about movies – he knows so many! He doesn’t waste time on movies that have below a 7/10 on IMDB. So while some of my favorite movies are your typical romantic comedies with the predictable ending, these movies will never meet his list.  At the same time, we do share some favorites. Either way, I’ve left the meetings with movies that I would like to see. Movie conversations led us to celebrities. Somehow crazy celebrity children names came up. We’ve all heard the crazy ones that come from American celebrities (Apple, Blue Ivy, Pilot Inspektor, Buddy Bear). But, my parent shared with me that this is prevalent in his culture too. He found the celebrity baby name of Banana (but in Arabic) hilarious. I think it is so interesting to see the similarities and differences in our humor, movie preferences, and family relations.