NationStates Jolt Archive

So yesterday was the kick off party to this semester's Conversation Partners. What this program does, is give Americans a chance to teach int'l students about American culture and way of life, and at the same time to learn about a different culture from around the world.

After sitting nervously for about ten minutes, the meeting began. the speaker, Kevin, gave us a few brief hints on about what to say and do. After he is done speaking, he informs we are now allowed to get up and look for our partner. Immediatly all 100 or so of us stand up and a loud buzz of voices begin. I looked at the list of names that were paired. I see my name paired up with what appears to be an Arabic name. So immediatly I head over to a group of Arab females, hoping it was one of, as they are very attractive. However, to my dismay it is not a female. I then bump into a gentlemen as I am turning around to continue my search, and knock his papers from his hands on accident. As he stands up after picking up his papers I catch a glimpse of his name tag. It reads Manea. This was the person I am looking for. After realizing we are partners, we decide to sit at a table and begin to talk. He has very broken english, as is expected, since he has only been here for five months. Upon first looking upon him, he looks as if he is maybe 20 at the oldest. However, he is 26 years of age. A very youthful looking man indeed. We are a little silent at first, however soon we go outside and he has a smoke. Then we get to know each other a little better. As our time together came to an end, we gave contact info out as to ensure that we would know when and where to meet next time.

Now comes the hard part, what do I do? Where do I take him? What do I talk about? Any ideas?

Just be yourself and show him the things you like to do. He's just a human. Ask him about what he likes or whatever.

This gives you the chance to meet someone from another culture and that's an awesome opportunity. Kudos!

So yesterday was the kick off party to this semester's Conversation Partners. What this program does, is give Americans a chance to teach int'l students about American culture and way of life, and at the same time to learn about a different culture from around the world.

After sitting nervously for about ten minutes, the meeting began. the speaker, Kevin, gave us a few brief hints on about what to say and do. After he is done speaking, he informs we are now allowed to get up and look for our partner. Immediatly all 100 or so of us stand up and a loud buzz of voices begin. I looked at the list of names that were paired. I see my name paired up with what appears to be an Arabic name. So immediatly I head over to a group of Arab females, hoping it was one of, as they are very attractive. However, to my dismay it is not a female. I then bump into a gentlemen as I am turning around to continue my search, and knock his papers from his hands on accident. As he stands up after picking up his papers I catch a glimpse of his name tag. It reads Manea. This was the person I am looking for. After realizing we are partners, we decide to sit at a table and begin to talk. He has very broken english, as is expected, since he has only been here for five months. Upon first looking upon him, he looks as if he is maybe 20 at the oldest. However, he is 26 years of age. A very youthful looking man indeed. We are a little silent at first, however soon we go outside and he has a smoke. Then we get to know each other a little better. As our time together came to an end, we gave contact info out as to ensure that we would know when and where to meet next time.

Now comes the hard part, what do I do? Where do I take him? What do I talk about? Any ideas?

Is he a muslim?( don't slam me with that pc crap i know he could be a copt or a jedi or whatever)

if he is I wouldn't go with him to a football game or a nascar race, a lot of the arabs in my school have some very negative preconceived notions about american morality. I'd go to a museum or just a plain old movie.

Show him all the good take out food places.

So yesterday was the kick off party to this semester's Conversation Partners. What this program does, is give Americans a chance to teach int'l students about American culture and way of life, and at the same time to learn about a different culture from around the world.

After sitting nervously for about ten minutes, the meeting began. the speaker, Kevin, gave us a few brief hints on about what to say and do. After he is done speaking, he informs we are now allowed to get up and look for our partner. Immediatly all 100 or so of us stand up and a loud buzz of voices begin. I looked at the list of names that were paired. I see my name paired up with what appears to be an Arabic name. So immediatly I head over to a group of Arab females, hoping it was one of, as they are very attractive. However, to my dismay it is not a female. I then bump into a gentlemen as I am turning around to continue my search, and knock his papers from his hands on accident. As he stands up after picking up his papers I catch a glimpse of his name tag. It reads Manea. This was the person I am looking for. After realizing we are partners, we decide to sit at a table and begin to talk. He has very broken english, as is expected, since he has only been here for five months. Upon first looking upon him, he looks as if he is maybe 20 at the oldest. However, he is 26 years of age. A very youthful looking man indeed. We are a little silent at first, however soon we go outside and he has a smoke. Then we get to know each other a little better. As our time together came to an end, we gave contact info out as to ensure that we would know when and where to meet next time.

Now comes the hard part, what do I do? Where do I take him? What do I talk about? Any ideas?

Take him to a quintessentially American restuarant. Maybe start off talking about food, since that's right at hand, then maybe work in your family's eating habits and shift to talking about family patterns. Lather, rinse, repeat.

Is he a muslim?( don't slam me with that pc crap i know he could be a copt or a jedi or whatever)

if he is I wouldn't go with him to a football game or a nascar race, a lot of the arabs in my school have some very negative views about american morality. I'd go to a museum or just a plain old movie.


He is a moslem, but he smokes, drinks and parties. So i don't know as far as what he considers as his morals.

If you're unsure, why don't you ask him what he'd like to know/see?
Or what odditities he has discovered in your country so far?

Just be yourself and show him the things you like to do. He's just a human. Ask him about what he likes or whatever.

This gives you the chance to meet someone from another culture and that's an awesome opportunity. Kudos!

This is actually some really good advice, you don't need to make a huge plan for an outing, just ask him what he wants to see.

Use your knowledge of arabic culture and treat him as you would any other person you meet.

Obviously,I mean,don't take him a to a Pork-only resteraunt or anything.

Don't use stereotypes.Ever.It's just annoying and appears ignorant on your part.

He is a moslem, but he smokes, drinks and parties. So i don't know as far as what he considers as his morals.

Cool ... I know a lot of liberal Muslims like that. Makes it easy. Take him to a strip club. :D

Take him to belly dancing:cool:

A small suggestion, please don't make him get defensive about his culture. Also if he is Arab, then hospitlality is a big thing for him.

So yesterday was the kick off party to this semester's Conversation Partners. What this program does, is give Americans a chance to teach int'l students about American culture and way of life, and at the same time to learn about a different culture from around the world.

After sitting nervously for about ten minutes, the meeting began. the speaker, Kevin, gave us a few brief hints on about what to say and do. After he is done speaking, he informs we are now allowed to get up and look for our partner. Immediatly all 100 or so of us stand up and a loud buzz of voices begin. I looked at the list of names that were paired. I see my name paired up with what appears to be an Arabic name. So immediatly I head over to a group of Arab females, hoping it was one of, as they are very attractive. However, to my dismay it is not a female. I then bump into a gentlemen as I am turning around to continue my search, and knock his papers from his hands on accident. As he stands up after picking up his papers I catch a glimpse of his name tag. It reads Manea. This was the person I am looking for. After realizing we are partners, we decide to sit at a table and begin to talk. He has very broken english, as is expected, since he has only been here for five months. Upon first looking upon him, he looks as if he is maybe 20 at the oldest. However, he is 26 years of age. A very youthful looking man indeed. We are a little silent at first, however soon we go outside and he has a smoke. Then we get to know each other a little better. As our time together came to an end, we gave contact info out as to ensure that we would know when and where to meet next time.

Now comes the hard part, what do I do? Where do I take him? What do I talk about? Any ideas?
Talk to him and see what his interests are. If he likes sports, try a football game. If he likes art, take him to a museum. You might try giving him a tour of your city. If he likes music, take him to a concert. You get the idea.

Some things that interested and/or confused me when I moved to the U.S. for college: How ridiculously large all the cars are. The prevalence of junk food and fast food. Shopping malls. The cereal aisle in the grocery store. The fact that dinner was served so much earlier than I was used to. The lack of public transportation. The difference in drinking culture. I could go on for a while, but I'll stop there for now.

Cool ... I know a lot of liberal Muslims like that. Makes it easy. Take him to a strip club. :D

hey that is somehting he and I hit it off on- women :D

In most of my intimate exchanges with Islamic men, I'm in Egypt, Jordan, or Israel, so I'm not sure about in North America, but usually a game of Shesh-Besh (aka backgammon), a plate of fruit, and maybe a hookah/nargila/shisha/water-pipe will make people feel comfortable with each other enough to continue... and I'm a religious Jew, so if that works for me there, it would probably work for anyone (male) anywhere.

Of course, that would be closer to you embracing his culture then his embracing american culture, but if the exchange is supposed to be both ways, get to it! It is a stereotype, but a damned good time, too, and it is the type of situation that makes conversation flow freely. Add a beer or two (import!!! not sex in a canoe american stuff) and you;ll be golden.

As he stands up after picking up his papers I catch a glimpse of his name tag. It reads Manea.

That's weird. :confused: Manea is a Romanian name. Are you sure the name is right or that the guy is an Arab?

That's weird. :confused: Manea is a Romanian name. Are you sure the name is right or that the guy is an Arab?

Manea Alyami is his name. Wasn't there muslim influnce in romania a long time ago? Maybe it has something to do with that.

He did like it that I at least knew something about his culture, in that I have read the Qur'an, and know about politics of the region and such. I am justunsure on culture. I think next wednesday when we meet again, i will get us a couple of cigars, and just take him around town or something

Manea Alyami is his name. Wasn't there muslim influnce in romania a long time ago? Maybe it has something to do with that.
There was some, but I had no idea that "Manea" has a Turkic(?) origin.

Manea is a family name, btw.

There was some, but I had no idea that "Manea" has a Turkic(?) origin.

Manea is a family name, btw.


Wierd :confused: :confused: :confused:

Once you trust and indeed like the guy a little do him the genuine favor of showing him your culture by taking him to your dwelling so he can see how you actually live rather than showing off for him or going to do plastic touristy things. For your part you only get a very small sample of his culture, what he can tell you not what you could actually experience if you were wandering around on his stomping grounds. If you get along well with the guy I'll bet dollars to donuts that at the end of this cultural exchange one of your goals for the long term will be to visit his country someday.

When I did conversation partners it turned a bit odd when the guy I was paired with started talking about how his family regularly met with the Emir of the UAE, and how they had three gigantic plasma screen TV's in their homes. I felt pretty fucking poor.

Strip bar.