Carlton CP #4

Conversation Partner #3, JO, for first meeting on Wednesday, March 19, 6:00-7:00pm.

I meet my new CP at the Strozier library outdoor tables eventually. We trade emails about the Starbucks but I wait inside and he waits outside, so we almost miss each other. The weather is nice for sitting out. We get used to each other talking about family and I show him a few pictures of my home. I learn that he is from Columbia. He seems to be a very serious student and is focused on speaking very deliberately. He is interested in the law, but not in being a lawyer. He wants to earn a Masters in law and assist in the criminal prosecutors office. He is worried like so many about the TOEFL Speaking test. He is looking at a program at University of Alabama that requires a high score, 26+, for this section. So he is smart to be practicing as much as possible.

I am hesitant to comment on the obvious topic of the drug war in Columbia, but we talk about the high rate of violent crime in both countries in general terms. He seems passionate about making a difference back home, and perhaps the American degree will lead to a J.D. in Columbia eventually. We also talked about spring break and he plans to travel out of Florida but was undecided.

JO spoke clearly and had good strategies for filling gaps that I could respond to with vocabulary suggestions, phrases: "it's like…", "how to say…". He also invited correction and paused politely when I was trying to explain a point. He is very friendly, calm and serious. We probably did not laugh, but I think we had a good first meeting that was useful to him.