First Meeting with Harrison (Conversation Partner 1)

I'll have to admit, I was a bit confused when my conversation partner email yielded a male name. I thought that I was most definitely going to be talking to a female IEP student, but I decided to roll with the punches and set up a meeting date as soon as possible (there's no time like the present, right?).

So Sunday at 3 p.m. by Union Grounds it was. I stepped into the BLUU with one conundrum. I had no idea what Harrison looked like. 

I timidly craned my neck around the first floor of the BLUU and found a guy waving me over. He asked if I was looking for Harrison, I said yes, then he proceeded to tell me that Harrison was in the bathroom.

This guy's name was Cameron, Harrison's roommate. Harrison had brought him here because he was nervous and needed a little moral support. Okay, this was too sweet. I met Harrison and we began to talk.

We talked majors, hometown and hobbies, but it was not the usual conversation. Harrison is from central China and plans on being a Computer Science major. Likes to just hang out in his dorm and relax when he doesn't have class.

He jokes about Cameron taking him to Target, and Harrison shares my love for the store (you can buy almost anything!). He also talks about how easy his homework assignments are and how he hopes to finish the IEP program early. He talks about how difficult and time-consuming school is in China.

They are in class from 7:20 a.m. until 6 p.m. What???? We talk about what he should do with all that free time, and he insists that he's content playing his computer games and staying out of the heat. I can't argue about that (I'm currently sporting a nice pink flush from Saturday's football game). 

But the thing that strikes me the most about our conversation is Harrison's unwavering optimism. He is thousands of miles away from home, and he's absorbing each experience in a positive light. He thinks the stir-fry line in Market Square is fabulous, even when he has to wait in line. He is really bonding with his American roommate, and is able to joke with him like they have been friends for much longer than a month. 

His responses are just so normal! He misses his family a little bit, but is much more excited to be at school and to be experiencing everything he can. Harrison loves the new freedom he has in the forms of free afternoons and weekends. 

We were both a little timid at first. Just as I was surprised to get a guy, he was surprised to get a girl. But, I think it's going to be a great year with many revelations and discoveries about each culture. Already I am so inspired by his fresh approach to everyday things and can really apply that to my own life.

I currently have a cough that sounds much worse than it really is, but Harrison was so concerned. When we parted ways, I asked him if he had any more questions.

He said no, but he did have some advice.

“You need to get better! Rest!”

We had just met, but he was concerned for my health and our next meeting. His enthusiasm is so inspiring and I can’t wait for my next conversation with Harrison Cao!

Oh, and I gave him some advice too: to go to the campus Chick-Fil-A. I promised him that he would love it and be addicted once he went!