I wanted to go out to dinner for one of the last times I would see my conversation partners, and although many of them couldn’t make it, I got some of them to come out along with some friends. So Paco brought his coversation partner Sunjin, and I brought Jia, and my roommate and boyfriend. We went to El Jaliscos for some lovely enchiladas/nachos/quesadillas and of course, margaritas! This was a long dinner so I’ll have to split this post up as well. But, we all arranged to be at El Jalisco’s at 8pm, and it was really enjoyable and laid back! I really enjoyed talking to Sunjin, because he was yet again another student who surprised me with all of his interesting things to say. I am pretty used to being around the Korean students at higher levels, so I didn’t realize for awhile I really needed to slow down. He often asked Jia for help translating—so it definitely seemed like a confidence boost to her that she could provide that. We talked about some differences in Korean culture, and simply that there is much of an old-world attitude that still prevails there. It is almost difficult to be accepting of “how someone was raised,” because in this country we can call that racism, sexism, prejudice, hatred, among many other names. But, if they are from another country, it is simply their heritage—of course, I understand this, but it was a tiny bit frustrating to hear sensitive subjects being completely turned upside down and dismayed. If that was said by someone in the United States, I feel, there would have been a serious remark made. But, regardless, I wasn’t angry, I just noticed this stark difference in understanding, tolerance, and respect that we all had and have to have.
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