Parting Ways

       Saying goodbye to my conversation partner seemed to be harder for me than it was for her. I had been thinking about it up to our final meeting- this was the last time my partner and I would see each other. Throughout the semester, it was difficult for us to meet, and it often felt forced when we finally did meet. I would gladly meet with her next year to catch up, but I'm not sure if her schedule would allow for it.
       As we sat at the table talking, she seemed slightly disinterested in the conversation. We talked about the usual topics: food and family. I tried to expand the conversation a little more, but she would respond by talking to the friend she brought with to our meeting. Whenever she talked to her friend, she would speak in her native language, making me feel a tad bit awkward. She was always very polite though, saying excuse me or often apologizing for things.
     Since she always brought a fellow IEP student along to our meetings, I was able to hear from a whole bunch of Saudi Arabian students; this was a really cool experience, especially since I was able to see how they interacted with each other. Part of me wishes I had been able to experience some one-on-one time with my partner. Maybe we would have been able to discuss deeper things than deep dish pizza if it had just been us meeting.
    When we wrapped up our final meeting, I guess I expected a little bit more of an actual goodbye. I had wanted to write a letter to her, thanking her for letting me see into her culture for a few weeks. Sadly, we ended up not meeting for McAlister's for an extra meeting, so I was never able to give her a letter. Towards the end of our final meeting, my partner and her friend were just scrolling through their phones until my partner looked up and asked how long I wanted to stay until. I said it was up to her, since I had a class later that day. She stood up, apologized, and said she had to go.
     I completely understand that schedules get busy, but I was sort of taken aback by her abrupt exit. What was really strange to me, was that she left behind her friend as well. I wasn't quite sure what to do, so her friend and I said goodbye before parting ways. A few days after our meeting, we had an awkward encounter on South University. I was walking with my friend to Barnes and Nobles, and my partner and her friend walked past us. I was extremely excited, but my excitement faded when she seemed to pretend that she didn't know who I was.
    Even though our last meeting ended abruptly, I learned a lot from my partner throughout the semester. There are so many things I never knew about Saudi Arabia (like laws relating to drinking, driving, and smoking). It was an amazing experience and I would do it again in a heart beat.