Hassan Journal

I was recently able to meet with Hassan again, and when considering how busy we have both been finding a time to meet is a blessing.  Between both of our classes it has not always been the easiest to find a time to meet but the great conversation we always have is well worth all of the coordinating. I am always glad to see Hassan because while we are engaging in the usual small talk that we have before delving into more substantive topics, he always seems to be so care free. Whether he has a test the very next day or just has a lot on his plate in general, I really envy Hassan for his ability to always be radiate positivity, which for me has been very contagious. As I have alluded to in previous journals, I often find myself so focused on some school or work project that the stress can cloud other positive aspects of my life that are occurring at a certain point in time. Therefore, it is always refreshing to see Hassan because he often serves as a reminder to take a laid back approach to life, which I certainly think is healthy.

            After our usual small talk, our conversation began to focus on our plans for the holiday and in result our families. Like so many foreign exchange students, Hassan has not been able to go home for and see his family for over a year. While I was not surprised by this revelation, I found it very profound to hear Hassan talk about his long (20+ hour) journey home. Even though he doesn’t leave until next Sunday, you could hear the excitement and anticipation in his voice while he described what it would be like to see his parents and siblings for the first time in so long. He has also previously mentioned that his parents are older, but in this conversation he went into more detail as he stated that they are also fairly unhealthy relative to many older people living in America, so he wanted to make the most of his time with them. Listening to Hassan talk about getting to visit his family really made me reflect on how lucky I am to be so close to my home. While I love that college has given me the ability to go out and live life on my own, I also am very thankful for the ability to return home with relative ease to see my family. I can simply not imagine what it would be like to be so far away from your family for so long.  To make the situation even more difficult, Hassan and the other IEP students are not only far from their families from the perspective of distance, but also are undergoing what must be a difficult transition to a completely new culture. I can definitely remember my first semester of college being all too ready to go home for thanksgiving and Christmas break after a semester of being “away”, yet compared to what Hassan has gone through I was not really away at all.

            Overall, I am consistently amazed by the strength that Hassan possesses. While I am sure it is a rewarding experience getting to come to a new country where he can be immersed in the culture, I am sure it can also at times be very difficult, a point which are most recent conversation highlighted.