English help

Conversation partner Journal 1

February 12th, 2009

2:00PM – 3:00PM

In February 12th 2009 at 2 PM in Creekside Coffee shop on campus was the first meeting with my conversation partner. At first we got coffee and then, she introduced herself to me. Her name is Jessie, she is from Brentwood, and she just turned 21 a couple months ago. So she told me that she is so happy because she can drink and gamble and do everything she can do. She is studying English for the third semester in CSU Chico. She is slightly shorter than me. Then, I introduced myself to her. Actually, I was wondering before I met her if she was a girl boy or girl because of her name. So I told her that and she laughed and told me there are many people have hard time to recognize if Jessie is girls or boys name specially, if she contact someone by e-mail. Then she told me that in America they have many names used for both sexes. And then, she asked me if we have the same thing in my country and the answer was no. Finally, we set up time to meet next week in the same time and same place.

Conversation partner Journal 2

February 19th, 2009

2:05-3:00PM

As we sat up the time, on February 19th at 2:05 PM we met on campus in Creekside Coffee shop and got coffee. First, I was 5 minutes late. So I felt sorry to her and she told me it’s ok for but In American thought “Time is money” which I knew it before. So she didn’t explain it to me. Secondly, we talked about our classes and how are we doing. Secondly, she asked me what the hardest thing I have faced in Chico. I answered, making friends is the hardest thing I have ever had. She was agreeing with me and she told me it’s really hard to get in groups in Chico. Then she asked me about making friends in my country and she understands the different and how it’s became hard for me to make friends in Chico. Then I told her that I have a hard time to ask the professors front of Americans in class because of my accent and the pronunciation. She told me that a hard in the begging and it becomes easier if I do it again and again. Then, she helped me to pronounce some words that begin with P letter such as pronunciation and approximately, because this is the hardest letter that most Arabic people have.

Conversation partner Journal 3

February 26th, 2009

12:30-1:20PM

On February 26th, at 12:30PM we met in front of the BMU then, we decided to go to an Arabic restaurant because she was excited to teat Arabic food. We went to an Arabic restaurant and got our Arabic lunch. Jessie enjoyed the food and loved it. After we paid the bills we walked around the downtown. While we were walking, she started to talk about how Americans serve their guests. She said, in American culture the guests who invite to celebration or a cup of coffee should feel free as they are in their own home. They might take anything from the kitchen or use the restroom. Also, they can play with kids and pets and use the yard without hostess’s permission. The most important thing that if guests invite for lunch or dinner and they need refill they can go to the kitchen and refill the plates. Lastly, after they finished guests may clean up their plates and have cup of coffee or cookies, tea, and juice without help or hostess’s permission. Finally, we decide to meet next week.

Conversation partner Journal 4

March 5th, 2009

2:00-2:50PM

On March 5th at 2PM I met Jessie in the library 2nd floor. First she asked me about the relation between my family and our neighbors in Saudi Arabia. I told her our neighbors are such as relatives because we are open to each other in everything. Then she started talk about how neighbors related for most American. She said that the relation between the students may comes friendship and be very close to each other for example, playing games overnights, hung out and have lunch or dinner sometimes. But between families it depends of the people. On one hand some neighbors just say hi to each other and they don’t like to be friend with neighbors. On the other hand, some neighbors like to be friends and share hobbies, food and hung out with each other.

3:00- 4:00PM

We met in campus first and then Jessie asked me to visit her work place which is the gym on campus. There were lots of people come through and Jessie told based on her experience in the gym guys are all focused on getting bigger and lifting as much as they can and really want an intense sweaty gross work out, but most of the girls want to slim down- become long and lean.  They try to never sweat in front of people and when they use weights they tend to be smaller. Then she asked me if we have the same thing back home? I told her that we have separate gyms and the most gyms are for guys and in my home town we just have one gym for girls and 4 gyms for guys. We also have the same focuses that guys and girls looking for when they go to the gym.

2:00-3:00PM

On April 2nd I met Jessie on compose and then we decided to go to star bucks. Since we arrived there were many people who were drinking and talking to each other. Jessie was standing behind my when I was ordering and the employee accent was strong. After we sat Jessie started talking about different areas who have different language patterns she told me that the language we hear on T.V tends to be typical of the LA area or New York, but in other areas they have different sayings and words. For example, in northern California people say "hella" a lot when they want to emphasize something and, in Boston they say "wicked" when they think something is really cool or interesting.  Jessie used to live in Idaho so she told me that we she was living in Idaho it used to drive her crazy that people would say someone was ignorant when they had a different opinion and they would pronounce it "ignernt'.

2:00 – 3:15

On April 9th I met Jessie on campus and then we went to DMV to get my car registration. While I was driving Jessie was talking about driving rules in America. First, she talked about speed limit in towns and said that most people follow the speed limit in towns but, not on high ways. She said in high ways some people drive over speed and others follow them because the one who is in the front will get the ticket. Then there was an ambulance cars in emergency state made all cars stops on the sides to let it move; then she asked me if we have same thing back home and I answered no. Once we arrived the DMV office there were some people inline. The employ was very helpful and smiley and the process didn’t take long time which is quite the contrary back home.

12:00 – 2:05

On April 19th Jessie and went to a party in Jessie complex pool because the weather was very nice and they got free lunch. Since we arrived there were some girls and guys swimming in the pool while the others preparing the food. Jesse was wondering if we have the same thing back home. I told her that we don’t have it but, we have them separate for girls and boys. Then the food was ready which was burger and hot dog. The only thing that I was confuse about that even it a party it was self serve for tomato, ketchup, mustard , soda, and chips because back home if someone does party for his friends he should does every tiny thing for them and give them everything ready to eat. And then, we met new people and talked about school and classes and they told I’m very lucky because I have a nice conversation partner. They were talking about the weather and how it is changing every day and, they talked about the summer plans. Finally a guy said ok guys “I am going to kick it “which I was confused about; Jessie explained it to me after that and she said it means I am going to relax at home.

4:00 – 5:00PM

I met Jessie in campus and then we went to the new hookah par in downtown Chico. Once we arrived there were many people smoking hookah, drinking tea, and chatting. Jessie asked me if I am interested to know more about American traditions when children get 18 years old. She said in America most people left their family house when they get 18 years old and live in dorms. On one hand, some student start working to buy their school tuition and dorm rent. On the other hand, some parents buy everything to their children