Date/Time: 12/6/15 12:30-1:45 PM
Location: Chipotle Mexican Grill
Topic Discussed: School, food, travel, critical incidents
Cultural and/or Linguistic Topics you and your partner learned: Today I met my new conversation partner Saad. I was partnered with Saad right before Thanksgiving break. He is from Saudi Arabia and is coincidentally roommates with my tuttee, Abdullatif. We talked about our shared love for food and cooking. I also explained critical incidents and shared a story about my experience in Nepal. Saad shared an incident he had in Tallahassee. In Saudi Arabia, according to Saad, most restaurants and shops always keep their doors opened. When he first went out to eat in Tallahassee, he opened the door and then shut it directly behind him. He didn't realize that it is customary to hold the door open for strangers coming in behind you. Instead, he shut the door as soon as a group of people were approaching the restaurant. They quickly became angry and asked him why he shut the door in their faces, but Saad could not understand or reply in English. His friends had to translate and explain the situation. He later apologized to the group of strangers. It's interesting that something as simple as holding the door open is actually a "shared pattern" for Americans in the South.
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