Conversation Partner - Meeting 4

Once again, Vanessa and I met in the Rec for our scheduled conversation last Friday. We sat and talked on the benches outside of the volleyball gym. One of Vanessa's friends from Saudi Arabia was there waiting for her ride, and it was interesting to meet her. 

Our conversation began in the same way all of the others had. We got caught up on the events that had transpired in each other's lives since we last met. Vanessa was enjoying the new material they had just started learning in class, and I showed her some of the pictures I had taken from TCU's Spring Game. Since her favorite color is purple, as is mine, she really liked the new uniforms. Vanessa found the new frog-print that is embedded in them rather interesting.

It is quite amazing how our conversations just take off. We don't come to the meetings with a set agenda of items to talk about. Most often, a random statement turns into a thirty minute conversation. This time, it was food. It was 2:00 when we met, and I still had not eaten that day. I complained of being hungry, which led to an in depth discussion of our eating habits. 

Vanessa loves to cook, especially Chinese food. She is constantly consuming fruits, and we had a good laugh over her complaining how American mangos aren't actually mangos. The way she described the mangos from her country really got me craving one. She could not believe my eating routine. I do not ever eat breakfast and usually have my two meals each day at approximately 3:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. She criticized me on how bad that was for my body, but it's like the only free time I have. And if that wasn't bad enough, I told her about what I actually consume. I never go to the grocery store, and I never cook. I eat fast-food for practically every meal. My oven has been turned on once this semester... Vanessa's jaw dropped to the floor. She was amazed. She also gave me some advice on easy things I could pick up and prepare myself, but I said that it just wasn't worth my time. The eat whatever you can whenever you can American way just didn't make sense to Vanessa. It is just another huge cultural difference between our two countries. She would rather take time out of her day to take care of her body, and I don't care what or even if I eat as long as I get complete my obligations. Who's to say whose routine is better? Hers. It's definitely hers...

Before we concluded our meeting, Vanessa invited me to the IEP's Conversation Partner Social this upcoming Friday. They will have games set up as well as different foods from all over the world. This will be a great opportunity to spend more time with Vanessa as well as meet more of her friends. Who knows, maybe this will be my first step in improving my nutrition. I look forward to it, and will let you all know how it goes.