The Last Meeting

I saw Jessie today in passing in the Bluu and I must admit it was rather bittersweet. She has taught me so much this semester about what it means to really be different. I've always had the notion that I was different. Not in a unique, special kind-of-way but in a negative one. She taught me what it's like to be truly different, foreign and how to deal. She handled everything with such optimism and poise. I know that she will do fabulously on her exams and I hope she knows just how much she means to me. This project was huge for me. I had to be selfless, I had to stick to a plan, I had to be a friend with my actions first then my words second. This has been an extremely valuable lesson in all aspects. Thank you Dr. Williams for teaching me what can't be said in books: compassion.

Hold Up, No She Didn't

This week Jessie and I didn't get to meet because of our crazy busy schedules. As fate would have it, we still got to see each other, even though it wasn't the best of situations.

I saw Jessie while I was on a quick run. I had dropped my ID card and luckily no one had picked it up. I say this because if I hadn't dropped my card, I wouldn't have been on that part of the path. I then see Jessie, in the middle of the road by the physical plant, crying, and then she almost got hit by a car.

"JESSIE GET OUT OF THE ROAD!' I yelled. She came over and this is apparently what had happened:

While in her international class one of the other girls (name and nationality removed for privacy reasons, but the girl wasn't chinese) pulled Jessie's hair. In China that's a huge insult. The equivalent of calling someone a poisonous b****.

Let me just say that Jessie is one of the sweetest women I've ever met and would never do anything to offend anyone on purpose.

Jessie then talked about how hard it was to be in a foreign culture for so long. It's surprising to hear considering how optimistic and fun loving Jessie has been all year. I talked her down, explaining how I was sorry and just tried to calm the poor girl down. I've had my more than fair share of mean girls to deal with.

Makes me wonder, did the other girl know how upsetting that small action was or was she innocent? Are we giving those who aren't from our culture too much credit?

Just for laughs...

BaileyDailey

So, these are just images I've found on StumbleUpon.com. What is StumbleUpon.com? It's a totally addicting website that basically drains all of your time. Go join. Enjoy!

Hills like Elephants

First, the analogy for the hills of northeastern Spain in the valley of river Ebro as white elephants is beautiful. The connection between the purity and uniqueness of a white elephant and the infant growing inside of the American woman, Jig, astounds me. Yes, I had help from my BFF SparkNotes but still I love it.

The need for drinking in order to bring about a difficult topic is so typical of Hemingway. To be honest, I'm a little sick of the need to assert his masculinity through such trivial means such as guns, alcohol, and sex. There are more to a man than these things yet, he overuses these symbols despite his literary genius.

Next, the setting of the railroad is fabulous with the comparison to the couple traveling but in two different directions. The suitcases and their multiple stickers are representative of the lifestyle the couple shares and how that could all come to an end if she doesn't go through with the abortion.

Finally, the slow descent into role reversal is humorous to watch. I can honestly say I didn't see that one coming and it was nice to be pleasantly surprised for once. 

The following is a sarcastic letter to Hemingway. Please disregard if you have no wishes for my personal opinions. I did this so that I would not push my own political views tomorrow in class. 

Dear Ernest Hemingway,

Please release my heart with the last piece we read for class. Stop traveling and allow my heart to come back to me because you've completely stolen it.


Thank you so much for portraying her in a completely passive role and depicting her as somewhat insane and mad from her love affair to her boyfriend. I just love how she is completely infatuated with this selfish and degrading man. Even though he attempts at redeem himself by retracting his wishes for her to go through with the abortion when he realizes she's mentally unstable, I just find him completely deplorable.

So typical of the time period Ernest, don't you think? Her groveling to appease a man because of the attention he gives her? Her need for validation from the love of a man? So fabulous.

Also, her determination to make things work while he continues to live whatever life he wants to live is just so perfect. I couldn't imagine a more desirable relationship. Especially because of her selflessness to get back to a "normal" relationship with this man.

No, she is not completely selfless you say? No, she is not. She still wants the relationship because of how it makes her feel in the end, yes, but she is the one who will sacrifice her body and future mental health for the whims and immaturity of a man.

Tata for now my love,

Bailey

I thought I was the one doing the interviews?

We ate with one of Jessie's friends who has already passed the English test today. She needed to interview an american about plastic surgery in younger generations. She was speaking about their use in terms of purely physical and non-medical. The woman was so well put together with her questions and did a great job at asking open-ended questions and letting me steer my answers. She wanted to know if I'd had friends who had these types of surgeries and what I thought of them. It was strange to be on the opposite side of the table so to speak and be the one answering questions rather than giving them. However, the woman did a great job, Chantelle I believe is her american name.

After that we talked about me and Jessie and how our relationship worked. Both Jackie and Chantelle found us slightly amusing as we communicate because it's definitely a dance of spelling, hand gestures, and mispronunciations. I don't mind at all, it's just interesting to watch someone else's reaction to our relationship. I'm still encouraging Jessie to practice hard for her upcoming test. I really want her to get out of the IFL program because I think she's ready for a "normal" classroom experience. She says she's nervous for the grammar portion and that the professor doesn't test them as hard as their actual test is. It also doesn't help that Jessie lost her flashdrive with the practice lectures on it and she can't get a new one. She's still borrowing a friends though and trying hard.

For the summer, Jessie will travel to L.A. before making a stop in South Korea and then back home to China. She won't work or anything, but rather enjoy herself with her family and friends. Something I truly hope to be able to do too.

More later.

B

ComMunicatE

Today's meeting was super quick. We were both in a hurry and didn't really have the time to meet. On top of that Jessie didn't have her phone. I kept texting her to try to meet slightly earlier but couldn't get ahold of her. Then I received a text back, from her boyfriend on her phone. Crazy. Turns out he had appendicitis and his phone ran out of battery. Jessie had given him hers so that he could still get in contact with everyone. Jessie and I ended up meeting up and you could just tell she was so worn out from the weeks events. Jackie had gone into the hospital Monday. He is coming home today and Jessie talked about taking care of him. She made it sound like she was looking forward to it, like it was an honor to take care of her sick boyfriend. Interesting cultural note. I told her that if she ever needed me she could email or text me and I would do my best. It's so hard to live in a foreign country, with foreign healthcare, and only public transportation or the rare friend with a car. I'm sorry it has to be so hard for her. I know that I would be just as exhausted and frustrated. On a happy note though, Jessie got a 108 on her last math exam. I know she's going to ace her English test, it has just gotten so much easier to speak with her. Today she was eating with a friend, Simon. Simon and Jessie continued to speak in Chinese until I put my foot down and told them only English. Funny to be the outsider in my country. It's not all about me, that's really what I learned today.