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.