Lately, I've been trying to think in very concrete terms how Chat Cafes benefit international students, and whether the two girls who regularly attend my conversation circles feel like it's been a helpful or enjoyable experience in any way. It's hard (impossible, probably) to force amicability and friendship to form naturally and spontaneously within a group and, similarly, it's difficult to pinpoint people's exact feelings without asking them candidly and assuming they will be honest in return. That's why, last week, when one of the girls expressed the desire to continue attending out weekly meet-ups next semester I was both pleasantly surprised and privately thrilled. I don't think the successful cohesion of our group has been due to my efforts so much as sheer luck but I'm still very happy that the Chat Cafes have brought these two students some enjoyment these past few months!
As an international student myself, I'm no stranger to the feeling of isolation and disengagement that being "foreign" can be; when I was a freshman I often felt so unattached and disconnected from the reality of "college life" that I couldn't figure who or how to be, if that makes any sense. I wonder if feeling part of a group like a Chat Cafe would have assuaged those feelings a little. It's definitely an idealistic, rose-colored notion but it'd be nice if Chat Cafes could be a moment to touch base, an hour to kind of talk freely and without the pressure of making American friends or dealing with all the intricacies of navigating a strange country. Although I'd like to continue meeting with these two students next semester, it'd be great if new members could join the group and we could explore the international experience together.
Returning to more practical topics, tomorrow we will be meeting at Espresso Royale during the UEA's yearly Write-a-Thon! I'm not sure if it'll end up being too loud to hold a conversation but I thought it might be fun to emerge from the conversational unit and engage with an Ann Arbor cultural activity. From what I've seen, the literary scene here can be a lot of fun and very energetic, and I'm excited to see what my conversation circle members think. There's a quote (I'm paraphrasing) that goes: I want to travel the world twice. Once, to experience it myself, and a second time, to see how you experience it. Being an international student is kind of like that, maybe -- although, since you can't really be an undergraduate twice, I'm both experiencing life as a college student and seeing someone else experience it at the same time!
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