Conversation Partner 5

            After having such a positive experience at Union Grounds last night, Linda and I decided to 

go there again. We both did not order anything but went straight into conversation. We talked more 

about our excitement for winter break, and began to talk about our plans. 

             As I said in an earlier reflection, Linda is not going back home to China for the break. 

Because our break is only three weeks long this year, traveling back to China would be too 

expensive of a trip for such a short period of time. Instead, Linda is staying in Texas to take driving

 lessons in order to get a driver’s license. Linda plans on buying a car here in Texas that she can use 

when she is an upperclassman. The last week of break, Linda is going to Cancun with some of 

her international friends at TCU. She plans on going to the beach with her friends and on going sight 

seeing. 

            We started on the topic of “travel.” Linda told me once before that her coming to TCU 

was the first time she had ever left China. She said her grandparents travelled a lot though, and 

she planned to travel when she got the opportunity. Apparently, her grandparents go on many trips, 

both domestic and international.  

              I began to tell Linda about my plans for the break. After I graduated high school, my 

parents moved to Chicago, so I go up there for Christmas. Linda was not quite sure where 

Chicago was, and I tried my best to describe it geographically. We talked about how absurdly 

cold it is in Chicago. Last year, we experienced temperatures of -20 with a windchill of -40. 

              I told Linda that I, too, am going to South America during the later half of winter break. 

It was actually extremely difficult trying to explain that I was going on a medical mission trip 

to Panama. I felt a lot was lost in translation, but eventually, Linda understood what I meant. I 

can’t even imagine what it’s like to speak more than one language. 

               Linda’s English has improved significantly in the short time I have known her. Our 

first meeting was slightly awkward because the language barrier was extremely prominent. 

Now, Linda has a firmer grasp on the language, and seems to be more confident when speaking. 

Although several times this meeting she had to take a minute to think about what she wanted to 

say, her fluency has improved immensely.