When I first met Sujin, I hardly knew what to expect. I sat down at a table at Barnes and Noble and immediately pulled out our generation’s go to device, the cell phone. I gazed across the café area and saw several possible Sujins. And then I had my answer. Listening ever so slyly, I heard someone’s phone go off in the distance merely seconds after I sent a text to my mysterious conversation partner. Bingo. Money in da bank. Victory. But then I realized a flaw in my logic. I then considered how many text messages are sent daily and realized that perhaps it was just coincidental. I decided to take my chances and approach her. Shamwow. Sigh of relief. It was Sujin.
I must admit I was rather nervous to talk to someone I hardly knew. My worry quickly subsided when we commenced talking. I was amazed by how precise and excellent her English was. I learned that she was from Korea and had been living with her aunt and uncle for the past year and a half in Fort Worth. I tried to imagine being in her shoes. How incredible it must have been to immerse totally and completely within another culture yet immensely terrifying at the same time. She told me how she wanted to be a kindergarten teacher and about her family back home. I couldn’t believe how fast the time went by. I was rather fortunate that Sujin and I were the exact same age. While we grew up with different backgrounds, we never ran out of conversation topics. We explored the bookstore and stumbled upon a personal favorite-Nutella snack packs. Both of us, obsessed with this chocolate hazelnut goodness, rejoiced in this discovery. We feasted upon Nutella and small crackers and eventually went our separate ways for the day. Little did I know that it would be the start of a beautiful friendship.
No comments:
Post a Comment