Tennis with James (Part 5)

James plays tennis here at TCU.  Since I used to play tennis (many years ago) we decided to change things up a little this week and have our conversation from the courts.  I was really excited because I’d wanted to play since I brought my tennis racket from home in August but never went.  We set out from the BLUU to make the journey to the courts.

            It was about a twenty-minute walk so we had plenty of time to catch up after spring break.  James enjoyed the break, although I suspect he was somewhat bored with everyone gone on trips and at home.  He was able to get his Driver’s License, which seems like quite a lot to get done with the classes and testing required.  We also talked about our previous experience playing tennis.  James travels with the club team and competes in tournaments and matches.  He’s been to UT, Baylor, and UNT to play tennis as well as playing in several tournaments here at TCU.  James also played tennis in China during high school.  He said it wasn’t a very popular sport in China but it was his favorite sport that he has played.  He has a lot of experience with sports, having played basketball, soccer, table tennis, and volleyball.  It was neat to hear how childhood sports were similar in China as they are here.  There also seems to be some major differences between sports here and in China, namely the unpopularity of baseball in China when it seems to be one of the most popular childhood sports here in America.

            When we reached the tennis center I was amazed about about how nice it was.  With the lovely weather, incredibly green grass, abundant flowers, and the nostalgic sound of tennis rackets hitting back and forth I was even more excited to return to the familiar sport now that we’d arrived at the facility and I’d seen how nice it was.  After we got a court our conversation soon became focused on details of the game that I’d forgotten over the years: where to stand, when to serve, etc.  James gave me tips that come with his years of experience and coaching and pretty soon we were able to keep the game competitive between us, making for a great afternoon.

            After about an hour of volleying, we decided to play an actual match.  It was so much fun to get out and enjoy the nice weather and return to a sport that I’ve always enjoyed.  I’m going to have to go back to play tennis a lot more often now that I’ve seen the courts.  James and I will definitely play again since we both enjoyed the game so much. It’ll make for some awesome future conversation meetings! 

To Kill A Mockingbird

The location I chose to read To Kill a Mockingbird turned out to be highly appropriate for its story.  I was at home over Spring Break, lounging in the sun in my backyard, where I grew up playing outside incessantly with my neighbors, much like Scout did with her brother and Dill.  Being at home already put me in a nostalgic mood; reading the tales of Scout’s make-believe adventure and ridiculous games filled my mind with numerous comparable memories of my own childhood.

            When I first started reading To Kill A Mockingbird I instantly connected with Scout.  Like her experience spending her pre-school summers with Jem and Dill, my two favorite companions before I went to elementary school were boys: two of my neighbors, brothers who were about my age.  My connections with the main character made the book very relatable to me and made it a quick, fun read. It was probably my favorite assigned reading that I’ve ever read, and not just because of my similar experiences as Scout.

            I also was fascinated by Harper Lee’s exquisite capture of the small-town, southern society during the Great Depression.  The racist themes and the setting reminded me somewhat of The Help, especially the scene where Aunt Alexandra has the neighbors over and the ladies gossip while Cal serves them.  Knowing some background into the society portrayed by The Help I think gave further insight into the setting of To Kill a Mockingbird.  Having this background knowledge led me to more quickly presume that the society was at least covertly racist.  The stunning human-like portrayal of the characters in To Kill a Mockingbird as well as the strong moral presence of the father Atticus reminded me of my favorite book as a child, Because of Winn-Dixie.  There are a lot of other similarities between the novels, another reason that I enjoyed To Kill a Mockingbird so much.

            I also enjoyed the novel because of Atticus Finch.  As I read further into the novel, I found that I respected his character more and more.  I think Harper Lee created in Atticus an example to her society about what real Christianity looks like.  Atticus embodies many of the values I associate with my faith; he is honest, courageous, accountable, and stands up for what is right; he is also humble and slow to anger, and takes great care in instilling these values in his children.  Atticus stands in great contrast to the society in which he is written, but does not let his sanctimonious yet immoral and racist surroundings take away from himself or his family.  I think we all have a lot we can learn from Atticus Finch about how we can be a positive example, not just saying but demonstrating what we proclaim is right.

Group Meeting with James (Part 4)

           This past week James and I met for the first time in a little over two weeks, which is unusual for us because we met every week earlier in the semester.  We’d both been extra busy with classes and outside activities, so we’d taken a week off.  James is on the club tennis team at TCU, so he traveled to Austin to play in a tournament.  From how he described the trip it seemed like he seemed to really enjoy it, minus the extensive farmer’s tan he said he developed from spending over seven hours in the baking sun that Saturday.  Since I have played tennis in school before, we decided that it would be fun to hold our next conversation meeting at the tennis courts and play a few sets.

            This meeting we also decided to do things a little differently.  We met in a group conversation chat so that we could get to know another student in the English program.  We also met with my friend Bessy and her conversation partner.  We first thought of this idea because we heard that Bessy was having trouble communicating with him because his English wasn’t as advanced as most of the students in the English program.  It turned out to be a great experience to meet another student and interact as a group.  We went around the little circle for most of the meeting and told stories, getting to know each other. 

          We talked for a while at first about people who had made a significant difference in our lives.  James talked about his father.  He described how he and his father have lots of deep discussions about every topic imaginable: economics, psychology, higher mathematics, politics, even sports.  Bessy’s conversation partner discussed a teacher he had who inspired him to be more passionate about his studies. 

          We also talked about our plans for Spring Break, which we were all very excited about.  James and Bessy are both planning on staying at TCU for the break.  James and Bessy’s conversation partner are both trying to get their driver’s licenses during the week off.  He is taking an all day class and test to get his license, which I’d never heard of. I can imagine that it would be very long and difficult, especially for someone whose English isn’t very strong.  It seems to me that students who are studying here from abroad have to do so much more work than students from here.  They are having to learn a language, communicate in that language, jump in to a new culture and new society, manage their resources with less help from parents, since their parents are back at home, and study more to overcome their language barriers.  It’s really inspiring to meet friends who have accepted this challenge and are thriving in their new homes. 

Playing Fair?

Hudson took a teensy step forward.  His little forehead creased as he cradled the white plastic spoon in his toddler hands, a mixture of frustration and concentration overtaking his face as every thought in his mind willed his tiny green Easter egg to stay in the spoon, not to fall to the ground.  He took another step.  Still safe.  He hadn’t yet made it to the starting line, Grandpa’s lawn chair, but it was clear he was already far behind.  Hudson’s excitement about the Easter activities culminated with this Egg-and-Spoon race; it was the last game that Easter, the last chance for Hudson to finally defeat his older brother, Logan.  Logan was nine, already well past Hudson’s clumsy-toddler stage that had led Hudson to drop his blue egg every couple steps.  But things would change at the starting line.  I watched my cousins from the porch of my grandparent’s backyard as they lined up for the race.  Despite his age, despite his uncoordinated grasp of the plastic spoon, I knew that I had evened the playing field, given Hudson a chance (for the first time in his life) to conquer over the coolest guy he’d ever known, his older brother.

Hudson

Logan and Hudson

            The children lined up, Hudson easily a head shorter than his shortest competitor, but I knew he could win.  They left the line and started across the green grass.  Logan was half the yard ahead of his younger brother already, but I knew Hudson would win.  Logan took another three steps to Hudson’s one feeble step, but then Logan’s orange and purple-striped egg tipped off the spoon and landed in the lawn.  He laughed it off, jogging back to the start, but I knew that this was the end of the race.  Hudson continued, his face serious with concentration, and crossed the finish line just before his brother could catch him.  Hudson was ecstatic. He’d never beaten his brother at anything and now he’d done it!  He hadn’t even dropped the egg once!  The smile on his face was as big as on Christmas, his eyes overfilling with confidence, and it was all because of Logan and I’s strategically placed loop of tape that had held that tiny green egg to Hudson’s spoon during the entire race.