My Buddy Barbi

           Being a conversation partner with Barbi has been one of the most rewarding experiences I have had at thus far TCU. From our bookstore dates, lunchtime meets, campus walks, and conversation partner events, we have become quite the duo. We text each other often, and Barbi feels comfortable asking me questions about her homework, assignments, or about TCU in general. I am lucky to have been paired with such a great partner and our last meeting for the semester was met with laughter and a great time.

Barbi and I met at the TCU Bookstore like always and caught up with each other for a few minutes. I asked her about her classes and she was thrilled to tell me that she is now at the advanced level! She did extremely well on her final exams and she cannot wait to continue to improve her English. Barbi’s happiness today was contagious, and she made my day go from a great one to a fantastic one. I told her that I did well on my accounting exam for once and she was so excited for me. I’ve loved being able to share my success and failures with someone else this semester and I know she feels the same way. Yes, I talk to my parents and friends about my life but it is nice to share this with someone completely unbiased and caring.

After catching up about our classes, we left the bookstore and walked to the Founder’s Statue where my sorority sisters were handing out hot chocolate. Barbi and I got some hot cocoa and walked over to the TCU Christmas tree in the Commons. We laughed about how much we both love chocolate and how neither of us thinks chocolate could be that bad health wise when it is in liquid form. Barbi had never seen the tree and was so excited to see such a masterpiece. In Haiti, people typically do not decorate with lights or Christmas trees for the holidays so this was something new to her. She told me that her family spends more time focusing on what they are thankful for and that they spend a lot of time together playing games and eating food. Not only did we talk about what she is going to do over Christmas break, but we also talked about football. She attended the TCU vs. Iowa State game this past weekend, and she said she had so much fun. Barbi was glad that she was able to go to a game, understand what was going on during the game, receive a TCU towel, and storm the field when the game was over. Overall, she had the typical TCU college student experience at a football game, and I am so happy that she had such a wonderful time!

My friendship with Barbi has made me more aware of the difficulties that exist for international students. The cultural and language barriers make it hard for those in the Intensive English Program to connect with others and even to connect to TCU as a whole. I enjoyed attending the Intensive English program events, and my favorite was the party I attended about halfway through the semester. I got to see Barbi interact with the other students and truly saw what she is like during class. She was friendly, approachable, talkative, and compassionate toward her classmates and tried to help the new students feel more at ease. Barbi’s teacher even came up to me and told me that Barbi is one of her best students and that I am lucky to be paired with her. I not only enjoyed this event because I was able to talk to some of the other international students but I also loved getting to hang out with Barbi in a fun, group setting. Barbi is not only my conversation partner, but she is also my fellow horned frog, friend, and confidante. Our personalities work well together, and we never stop laughing while we are together. I look forward to continuing to hang out with her long after this class is over, and I know that we will stay in touch even after college.

Assessments and a New Awareness

          As the fall semester of my sophomore year comes to a close, I want to discuss a few of the many things I have learned within the last four months. Not only did I increase my academic knowledge, but I also discovered new things about myself. The personal growth and awareness I have experienced this semester is infinite. I have learned much about myself in terms of my strengths, motivators, interests, communication and learning style, and goals based on three specific assessments I took within the last few months. The StrengthsQuest, and CareerLeader tests have contributed to a greater understanding for who I am as a whole, and have allowed me to recognize my unique traits in everything I do. Not only did these two assessments highlight a few of my key qualities, but they also indirectly emphasized how I am different from others, and I now have the knowledge to see how my characteristics play out in day-to-day interactions.

          Since taking the StrengthsQuest assessment last year, I have utilized my top strengths in a more effective manner. My top five strengths are achiever, positivity, communication, maximizer, and individualization, and while I had always recognized that I had these qualities, I never realized that they were strengths or tangible, definable abilities. I see my strengths being used everyday and in most situations. I strive to accomplish tasks in an efficient way so as to save time, produce a high quality product, and maintain good time management. This has always been important to me, and even in middle school and before, I knew that I had a talent in getting tasks done on time and aiming to ‘achieve’ objectives. I love being a positive person and pride myself on being optimistic. I enjoy encouraging others but also like to surround myself with equally as giving and happy people. I feel that I communicate well in regard to my ability to concisely and effectively transfer information from one person to another, and like connecting with people on a deeper level. I look to constantly improve things from average to superb, and find this task to be very rewarding. I can see other people’s strengths easily and enjoy finding ways to bring out these qualities. Each person has a special skill, and through my individualization strength, I enjoy finding what makes every individual distinct.


          The CareerLeader assessment helped me a lot in terms of categorizing my motivators, my interests, and my skills into a set career path. These results have helped me realize what I value most about life and have shown me the jobs that will align with my goals and personal objectives. My top five motivators are lifestyle, affiliation, altruism, financial gain, and security. I want a job that will be flexible to accommodate for family life, but also one that provides me with many networks and social groups at work. I want to work within a positive, upbeat environment where relationships are emphasized and the employee’s wellbeing is put first. I am looking for a position that will provide me with job security and financial gain, but also one where I can work towards bettering our planet and the people that live in it. I am interested in creative production fields, and my natural inclination towards this area is greater than 86% of other business professionals. I am skilled in written communication and time management, and hope to pursue a career that allows me to utilize these abilities. The culmination of this data led to my top five business career choices to be advertising account management, training and organizational development, human recourse management, management of new product development, and marketing and marketing management. I am very much interested in learning more about all of these job options and hope to continue to do research about the jobs themselves and the opportunities that come along with them. I enjoy writing, working with others, having stability and consistency, and being successful, and I will keep these characteristics in mind while analyzing possible career options.

          As the first semester of sophomore year comes to a close, I wanted to take the time to analyze how these assessments have impacted me. Although college has an academic focus and drive, I believe that some of the most valuable things we learn in college don’t come from a textbook. A good understanding of how the world works and how you will fit into the chaos of ‘real life’ is important, and I feel that these tests have provided me with the necessary information to do this. I can see how I fit into the professional world, and I look forward to taking on these challenges.

Swinging and Speaking

              Barbi and I hung out yesterday and enjoyed the last moments of the beautiful weather together before the temperature drop. Both Barbi and I dislike cold weather so it is fitting that we enjoyed each other’s company while hanging out in the sun. We walked around campus for a little while and then found a nice spot near the TCU swing. Barbi told me that she enjoys playing and told me how to say the word swing in French. While she swung, I sat down in the grass and enjoyed the quiet. It seemed as if everyone else was in a rush to get somewhere but Barbi and I weren’t. We talked, laughed, and hung out as if time had no meaning.

Our conversation started when I asked Barbi if she likes board games. She was confused at first and asked if I was talking about constructing puzzles. Her confusion led to some confusion on my part, however, I soon realized that she didn’t know what I meant by a board game. I explained it to her that it is a game with playing pieces, dice, or cards and that you keep score as you move your piece around the game. After my explanation, she realized what I was talking about and said that she loves those kinds of games! She mentioned the word for board games in French and for the second time yesterday, she had to tell me how to say a word in French that she hadn’t initially understood when I said it (the first word was swing and the second was board game). Up until yesterday, we had not had much miscommunication due to the language barrier. Barbi mentioned that this is because yesterday, we spoke about subjects she is not familiar with in English, while upon other meetings, we spoke about somewhat generic topics. I am curious to find out what some other words are that may not have an easy translation into English and hope to find out how to say more phrases and words in French.

I asked Barbi about what she is most looking forward to in the future and she told me that she cannot wait to see her best friend, Modu. Modu currently lives in Haiti but applied for the Intensive English Program at TCU last week. Barbi told me she hasn’t seen her friend in over two years, ever since her father’s funeral. She told me that her father’s funeral was a lot for her to deal with since she had just lost one of her parents, wanted to be emotionally strong for her mom, and had to constantly be surrounded by police and security guards for the family’s protection. I asked if the police ever found out who murdered her father and shot her mother but Barbi said they never found out. She said that there is no justice in Haiti for the common man, only for those who are rich and can bribe the police. Barbi would like to know who murdered her father to find out why they did it but she accepts that the event happened and that she may never know. I complimented Barbi on her bravery and strength, and she said that most people tell her that as she smiled.

As Barbi continued to swing and I continued to mindlessly people watch, I asked Barbi about her experiences with school in Haiti. She told me that school in Haiti is different than how it is here and that it is not as good. She received poor instructions and did not have the help she needed to finish high school there. During junior and senior year, students take benchmark tests made by teachers and the government in order to assess who is ready for university. Barbi told me she had trouble passing, which is why she came to the United States to learn. She said the tests are extremely difficult and that qualified instructors do not grade them, so a math teacher could grade a history test while a history teacher could grade or teach science. I was shocked to hear this, and realized how truly blessed I am to have grown up in a country that values education. I never used to consider starting a nonprofit organization in an underprivileged nation since I have always been focused on helping animals, however, my interactions with Barbi have made me rethink what I am passionate about. Although I am still an avid supporter of animal welfare and environmental sustainability, Barbi and her experiences make me want to help others who have gone through similar things. I am unsure how this compassion will translate into my life and career decisions but I do know that Barbi has left I huge impact on me in just a few short months, and her attitude towards life is truly admirable.

Hey Jude

         

            I got to hang out with Barbi and her brother, Jude, yesterday! We walked around campus, sat by the founder’s statue, caught up on the latest activities, and even had a little birthday celebration in honor of Barbi’s 22^nd birthday that was yesterday. I gave Barbi a birthday present that included a purple scarf and a few purple hair bows that she can wear to TCU events. She was not expecting a gift at all and I could tell that it really meant a lot to her. It made me happy to see her so excited, and it was fun getting to hang out with both Barbi and Jude.

            We began by talking about the cultural differences that exist between people from different countries. First, Jude mentioned that the food in the United States is different than the food in Haiti. He said that all the foods we have here are processed, include many ingredients, and are heavy, while the food in Haiti is lighter, fresher, and less extravagant. His favorite food, like Barbi’s, is the rice and beans that his mother makes. Jude also mentioned that the United States doesn’t have many naturally growing foods like Haiti does, and that the best feeling is finding a ripe mango on the ground.

Next, the conversation moved away from the topic of food as we started talking about cultural norms. Jude mentioned that his first day in the Intensive English Program at TCU was a bit awkward because he shook hands with a few girls from Saudi Arabia when he wasn’t supposed to. He said that he took their hands without permission and the girls got upset because they aren’t supposed to shake hands with males. On top of not knowing this cultural rule, Barbi mentioned that it is normal in Haiti to say hello and goodbye by giving someone a kiss on the cheek. However, in the United States she needs to remember that this type of behavior is not “normal”. I asked Barbi and Jude about their first day of school in the United States and they said they just remember sitting in a room, not understanding a word anyone said, and acting out phrases that they wanted to say. They said it was a scary and isolating feeling to not be able to speak the same language as others, which emphasizes how critical language is to human connections. Barbi said that it is extremely difficult to understand another language fully, and when I told her that I think she speaks English well, she disagreed. She proceeded to tell me a story about one of her in-class speaking presentations. Barbi said that she was talking about one of her favorite places from home, and accidentally said b**** when she meant to say beach. We laughed about he mispronunciation, and Jude chimed in that it was quite amusing to the whole class, but got us to talking about how difficult it is to master a language, especially English.

I am able to connect with Barbi and Jude due to my experience with attempting to learn a foreign language. Through high school, I took Spanish as an elective, and no matter how hard I tried, I just could not seem to master the language. I could easily pick up words and phrases, and could write well, however, grammar was difficult for me. I told this to Jude and Barbi and they completely agreed. We bonded over laughing about all the grammar rules, and our similar struggles and experiences regarding foreign languages solidified that we have more in common than we originally would have thought. Barbi asked about what we are doing in our English class this semester, and I explained that we are focusing on water and how water impacts people and civilizations. I spoke about the books we have read, and the movies we have watched, and both Barbi and her brother found this to be interesting. Next, the conversation became more serious, and Jude spoke about how it is difficult to have meaningful or deep conversations with people who speak another language. Barbi said that they know a set amount of vocabulary and phrases but that it can be hard to understand what someone is trying to say when the conversation deviates from standard topics. Jude added that it he becomes quieter and less social when discussions are more in-depth, and that this makes it hard to connect with girls or even know how to flirt in another language. I had never thought about these things before, however, when I think back to my days in Spanish class, I can definitely see how these would be challenging obstacles to overcome. I enjoyed my time with Barbi and her brother yesterday, and loved getting to hear another person’s perspective. I can’t wait to continue to learn more about the two of them, and become even closer to them through gaining understanding and sharing experiences.

             

Aspirations From Different Nations

            Barbi and I hung out again today! We met at the Bookstore after her class, and got to catch up about the weekend’s activities. Barbi had a long weekend since she took her final exams last Thursday, and said that it was nice not to have any homework for a few days. She was supposed to go to the TCU football game on Friday but had to go to her aunt’s funeral on Saturday. Barbi said she wasn’t particularly close to her aunt but that her family has gone through a rough patch the last few years. Loosing a family member, even if you’re not close to them, is difficult, however, Barbi views death as a common part of life. She continues to surprise me with her positivity, and I hope to develop a similar outlook about life and death as she has.

In class, she passed her writing and speaking exams, but is still struggling with grammar and reading. I offered to help her with her homework sometime but she insisted that she does it by herself so she will understand it better. The Intensive English program started the next section this week, and Barbi said it is even more difficult than what she has already learned. Barbi told me a few funny stories about her classmates, and said she is close with a lot of them. She enjoys speaking to people and getting to know them better, however, she said she has trouble understanding some of the students with heavy accents. Barbi told me that they often do in-class presentations, and although she enjoys talking, she gets nervous before public speaking. This was something that we agreed on, and bonded over the fact that we hate listening and watching ourselves back on video after presenting. Barbi said the last presentation she gave was about her favorite celebrity; her favorite is a rapper since she likes listening to rap music. Barbi’s favorite television show is “America’s Funniest Home Video’s” since she loves to laugh, and we talked about a few of our favorite videos we have ever seen.

Once talking for a while about our lives in general, and getting to know each other better about surface-level topics, we then switched to talk about the future and some goals that we have for our lives. Barbi asked me a lot about the business classes I am taking since she wants to have a career in business management. Ultimately, Barbi wants to start her own orphanage in Haiti in order to give the many orphans in Haiti a good home. She cares deeply about the wellbeing of others, and wants to use her education to help those less fortunate. Her business degree will allow her to have the knowledge required to start up this home, as she will understand how to finance the start-up and raise funds in order to continue to pay the bills. Barbi asked about what I want to do with my business degree, and I told her I want to do green marketing. I explained that I want to market for environmental sustainability, and she recognizes the need for this since in Haiti everyone just throws trash on the ground. It was fun getting to know Barbi on a deeper-level, and I got to learn about what motivates her.

Our relationship continues to develop with each meeting. We now text each other during the day, interact on social media, hug each other hello and goodbye, compliment each other on slight changes in wardrobe, hair style, etc., and look forward to hanging out again. Barbi was happy when I told her I will attend her class party on Friday, and she introduced me to her brother today. We are becoming consistent parts of each other’s life, and I enjoy hearing about her life. Barbi’s 22^nd birthday is next Tuesday, and I can’t wait to give her the birthday present I got for her! She is way more than just my conversation partner. Barbi is my friend, and I love having a friend like her.

Trinity and Treats

           

     

            There is no greater time to relax than when you are in nature. The outdoors is a place to escape everyday activities, to forget about the perpetual ticking of time, and to lose oneself in fresh air. I feel the most at peace when I am outside, which I attribute to not only the beauty of nature but also to nature’s sounds. I enjoy observing the many elements of nature, and like to feel the renewed sense of being “one with the earth.” I try to find breaks in my schedule to sit outside and just enjoy my time regularly because I feel refreshed and energized after doing so. There are many reasons or occasions for being outside, and although I did get to sit outside today, the main purpose for my little adventure was to find food.

            Today, I decided to go to the Fort Worth Food Truck Park with some of my friends. The weather was nice this afternoon, and we figured that since it is a Friday, there would be a lot of activity along the Trinity. We ate our food at a picnic table facing the river so as to observe everything going on. There were many people at the Food Truck Park and even more along the river. The majority of the people there seemed to have either just come from work or just come to hang out since it was such a nice day. We saw bicyclists, walkers, joggers, dogs, children, families, and even a few fish as they jumped out of the water and then back in. A man on his bike stopped to ask me how much longer the path went down the river, and when I responded that I didn’t know how long it was, he replied by saying that it didn’t matter anyway because he was just happy to enjoy the experience. I thought his comment was interesting and quite profound. The fact that he originally wanted to know how much longer, and then realized it didn’t matter made me realize how precious every moment is. He was content to ride his bike down the river for as long as it would go, and there was something comforting in this. It was as if all his other activities stopped, and he had the opportunity to just enjoy life for what it was.

            Apart from this quick conversation, I noticed that the river is an entity that brings people together. I had always heard that water brought civilizations together via watering holes hundreds of years ago, however, I had never seen this play out in person. The Trinity River brought a wide variety of people together for a common purpose: to enjoy the water and the outdoors. There was a diverse group there this afternoon, which included young and old families, working professionals, dog-sitters, people training for marathons, students, bicyclists, and even people, like ourselves, who were there to take in the scenery and eat good food. It is not very often that this group of people would all be in the same place at the same time, however, the river united us for a few short hours. The Trinity River served as our unifying factor, and I can now see why civilizations have been built around rivers or waterways for centuries. The water not only provides humans with physical needs but it also satisfies emotional needs by giving individuals a calming, constant, and steady aspect of life.