One Last Time
With my third semester of college coming to a close, I was already feeling sentimental. Time goes by so fast, especially at Auburn. I knew this would be my last time discussing topics for my International PR class with Jingwen. I got on the Zoom link early and excitedly waited.
This time was different. She joined Zoom through her phone; normally she uses her laptop. I couldn't help but notice she was not in her normal room. I asked where she was and found out she was having dinner and hanging out at a friend's house. I thought back to our first meeting. I remembered Jingwen alone in her room telling me how lonely Auburn was. It made me happy to see Jingwen having such a nice time now. It is funny how much can change in a couple months. It is comforting to know that nothing is ever permanent.
We reminisced on our time together. After talking, I realized we were both equally as nervous for our first meeting! I shared with Jingwen how much meeting her has meant to me. I learned so much about Chinese culture and have found a new respect for it. Chinese culture is so beautiful and complex. Tradition and family are lovely things to focus on. After meeting Jingwen I have realized how kind and brave she is. If other people from China have half of the positive traits that Jingwen has, I just know it is an amazing country. Jingwen allowed me to learn and grow as a more accepting person. I wondered if our meetings had benefitted her in similar ways. She said that our conversations have helped her a lot, and she thanked me. We jointly agreed that we were very glad we met each other.
Instead of preparing a list of specific questions this time, we just let the conversation flow. We talked about what has been going on in our lives. I got introduced to her friend. It was so fun to get a sneak peak into Jingwen's life. I even got to meet their cat!
I remember having conversations and learning about the concept of identity in class. Identity always sits in the back of my mind whenever I talk with Jingwen. She is defined by many things such as her country, gender, and studies. Identity is not permanent; I can tell Jingwen's identity has changed this year already. I think she feels more comfortable as an Auburn student and identifies with it stronger. I have realized it is important to recognize people's identities and learn about what makes them unique. However, you do not have to share the same identity as someone to relate to them and cultivate relationships. This realization and knowledge will serve me well in the future. I plan to study abroad during my time at Auburn. Now I will be able to recognize and admire other cultures and identities without coming off as a stereotypically disrespectful American. I am unsure where I want to live or where I want to work in the future. I am certain recognizing other's identities and appreciating them will work to my benefit. This knowledge will help me be a more tolerant and accepting human being.
It is hard to believe my time in this class and my time with Jingwen have already come to an end. It is always easy to view endings as negative, but I have to remind myself of the bigger picture. There are no true endings; I will carry my memories with me to create new beginnings. I am so thankful to have learned so much, and I will never forget this experience.
