Conversation Partner 6

Last Tuesday, I had my final meeting with Monica. With everything being so crazy with the snow and whatnot, I’m just now getting around to finishing this blog even though I started it right when I left our meeting. Oops…

Although we had our language struggles at times, I really feel like I got to know a lot about her in the time I spent with her and vice versa. I definitely know a lot more about Venezuela and the IEP here at TCU and, if nothing else, my Spanish listening and speaking skills have greatly improved. I really am glad that this class required us to do this project simply because it forced me out of my comfort zone, something I rarely do on my own accord. I couldn't have asked for a better conversation partner in Monica either, anyone who can talk about food and complain about soap operas for an hour is A okay with me.

With all that being said, I'll talk about our conversation today. For the most part, we talked about the struggle that is finals and my plans for Christmas and summer vacations. I found out that the IEP students have to take finals too, but she doesn't take them all that seriously. She says she just wants to learn English, she's less worried about the grades part. She feels like if she knows the information and is actually learning English, her grades will reflect that, and if not, she will know she needs to work a little harder at it. Of course, she doesn't have to worry about her grades affecting her career or admittance into school, so the grades aspect can take a back burner for her. She has a son in college, though, so she knows the stress that comes with finals (when I say stress, I mean the mind-numbing torture that is cramming for a week straight). Mostly we talked about what my finals would look like and what I would do with my break when they were done. She loved the fact that I plan on reading and sleeping for the majority of my time off because that is exactly what she plans on doing. That is just one of the many similarities I have found between the two of us. 

I would have never thought that I could connect so easily with a grown woman from Venezuela, but I did. For the most part, our meetings flowed really well without too much awkwardness or silences. Obviously the language barrier was the hardest part of all of it, but I really think we both helped each other a lot with learning the other's language. When it was time for us to part ways, we both were a little sad. If I see her on campus I will be overjoyed. Monica was such a blessing to get to know and I really hope that last meeting was not the last time I will see her.