Lunchin with Leo part 2

     Yesterday was my second meeting with Leo. We had lunch at 1873. I got there first and was hungry, so I ordered a Mushroom Burger (yuck)! A few minutes later, Leo came by. He blindsided me when he said how he was trying to eat healthier, or “more vegetables” so he wanted to go eat at Market Square. I felt bad that I already ordered, and was wondering why he didn’t text me earlier to tell me this. But he decided to get sushi from Union Grounds and then we got a table in 1873.

     The conversation went well. We talked about his weekend and his trip to the rodeo. He liked the rides better than the actual show, which he thought was a little boring. The language barrier first became evident during the discussion when he had to make the gesture for “rollercoaster” because he did not know the word. Throughout the meal, I taught him to pronounce words that he was mispronouncing, spell the words for him, and help him to think of the right word for each situation. I also noticed a language barrier regarding the English that he learned in China, and the English that we actually speak here. For example, in China, he learned that to say the phrase “what’s wrong with you?” when someone looks sad or something is wrong. But he told me that in America, when he asked someone that question, he received a negative look and was told not to say that. I realized that when he said that, the other person probably thought that Leo was saying that it is his or her fault that he or she was upset. And in America, we usually say that phrase when we are angry or being sarcastic. It is curious how English is different here compared to the English people learn in other countries.

     There was one thing that Leo did that I was not expecting. When we were talking and waiting in line, or getting a drink, he would put his hand on my shoulder and you know, pat my shoulder. This surprised me because I thought I remembered my Chinese friend saying that people in China had a larger personal space bubble than people in America, and have less personal touch. And guys in general seem to usually have a larger personal space bubble as well. Maybe he touched me more because he feels like he knows me better, or maybe that is how his personal space bubble is. Either way, I came out of the meal learning that cultural stereotypes do not apply to everyone, and what you think you know to be true about a person or culture may be completely false.

     During the meal, he said a few very interesting things concerning health and vegetarianism that I did not know before and that confused me. I think the language barrier was definitely evident here because he often struggled to find the words to explain this topic. First, he said how seafood is bad for people’s health because it’s  “cold.” Since our body is “warm,” something that is “cold” is bad for us. But wasabi apparently is “warm” so it helps sushi to be healthy. I was very confused by these statements. I think the language/cultural barrier was definitely evident here because I could not understand what he was trying to say. His statement on how it is healthier to be a vegetarian because it is easier to not get angry intrigued me. His reasoning is that animals that eat vegetables are kind while animals that eat meat are angry. I am not sure where he got that from, but if it is true, then that is very interesting information.

     We discussed humor throughout the meal. He told me that it is harder for Chinese guys to date an American girl because American girls do not find Chinese boys funny, due to the language and cultural barrier. For example, he said that because when he cannot pronounce English words correctly, American students could not understand his joke and find it funny.

     An hour after we met, I left to work on a project. So we walked toward my dorm and then went our separate ways. It was a good lunch. I learned some very interesting things and I hope he learned something as well. I look forward to our next meeting, and am interested to see what else we will learn from each other.