Fatema

Fatema is nineteen years old, from Saudi Arabia, and has one of the sweetest demeanors imaginable. She's soft-spoken, curious, and lovely to be around. Before meeting with her, I was anxious, excited, nervous, unsure, and curious all at once. We settled on conducting our first meeting last Thursday, in the BLUU, to grab coffee after class.

When I approached her, she was sitting with her aunt (who actually turns out to be younger than her) and warmly greeted me as we ventured towards the coffee counter to order drinks from a disgruntled and very unpleasant TCU employee. I made jokes with her to break the ice about how unacceptable this behavior was. 'It's Friday, why should anyone be in a bad mood?!' She giggled and I took a sigh of relief, acknowledging that just because she was from another country, does not mean she can't have a sense of humor and find comedy in the same things as me! Throughout our conversation, it was refreshing to hear that we were able to easily talk about many recent movies and I got to hear her thoughts and see which types of movies she found most entertaining. It reminded me that no matter where you live in this world, there are many forms of entertainment and art that are enjoyed and revered by all.

I was also very pleased with her English. I think one of my biggest fears in regards to this assignment was the fact that communication with a new person can be awkward and difficult to navigate, even when meeting someone from your country...so make that a foreign-exchange student who is practicing their English and you get a big heap of intimidation. I was, however, so impressed with Fatema's knowledge of the English language and her ability to concisely speak her mind. She even made very few grammatical errors! Of course there were times, here and there, when I would have to ask for clarification or for her to repeat her question or answer. I, too, had to repeat myself several times, but this is nothing unusual... I have to do this with even my best friends sometimes!

Fatema lives with her aunt and uncle just five minutes from campus. Her aunt is actually in the IEP program, as well, so I think that is very helpful to have someone she can study with. She has one brother back home in Saudi Arabia and texts and Facetimes with her family almost daily. It's so surreal to see someone from a different continent scroll through the same iPhone that you use on a daily basis and which is so prevalent in the American culture. (Reminds you what a powerful force Apple is in this world...).

I found one of the most challenging parts of the conversation to be appropriately asking about family and what life was like back home. It's difficult to ask this respectfully as you do not know their circumstances, what brought them to TCU, and if they have lost family along the road of their lifetime, however, this is just simply a risk you take when getting acquainted with someone new. However, in this instance it felt slightly different due to the fact that I wanted Fatema to feel as respected as possible. The conversation partner concept is so wonderful and invigorating, however, it can be difficult to know how to learn as much about them as you would like, without seeming like you are grilling them, interviewing them, or simply using them as a means to receive your weekly 'conversation', because, for me, my time with Fatema was so humbling and enjoyable.

I learned a bit about Fatema's time in Australia, where she was last studying. She raved about a small town she frequented and showed me pictures of the beautiful beaches there. I expressed my envy for her world experiences, saying how badly I have been wanting to visit Australia, but explaining my trepidation with such long flights. Fatema could not say enough good things about Australia and strongly encouraged me to travel there.

One other tricky area of the conversation was asking about whether she would be going home or not for the 'holidays'. I do not know necessarily what religion Fatema and her family practice, and this is a topic that is sensitive to just blatantly ask about. So I tried to avoid asking specifically about the holidays and instead ask when she would next get to venture home.

Speaking with Fatema was wonderful. She was curious, courteous, happy, and sweet. I'm anxious to meet with her again soon and look forward to continuing to gain more knowledge about her, her family, her culture, and her life at TCU!

The Big Thirst

"And we only have that one allotment of water-- it was delivered here 4.4 billion years ago. No water is being created or destroyed on Earth. So every drop of water that's here has seen the inside of a cloud, and the inside of a volcano, the inside of a maple leaf, and the inside of a dinosaur kidney, probably many times" (Fishman 17).

When I fill up my Camelback water-bottle for a day full of classes and studying, I never really think about my water's previous life; how Marilyn Monroe could've bathed in it, how it was once in a cloud that I've flown through, or possibly been previously consumed by a former President. It's pretty mind-boggling to consider the lifecycle of all of the water that is on Earth. How many times has it been reused and taken on a new form? Before reading The Big Thirst, I wasn't very cognizant of this fact...

When I look at the water flowing out of my bathroom faucet, I can't help but to look at in a new light now. Fishman makes the point that water is not really as 'clean' as we think it is. Sure, it has been treated in order to purify it and make it usable for consumption or other uses, however, it's not this new, first-time seeing daylight, form of science. It is a beautiful, mythical, and fascinating form of reused nature. When we learned about the lifecycle of water in elementary school, I didn't truly realize the gravity of its impact in my own life and existence. After all, it is the reason we are all able to still be alive today!

I took environmental science my freshman year here at TCU and we were taken on a field trip to a wastewater treatment facility in town. Little did I know at that point in time, just how vital these treatment plants are and what an essential part of our world they play. It only people were more conscious of water's fleeting availability and inability to be created, perhaps we might see a few less floating coaches in the middle of the Trinity River...

Another topic that Fishman discusses in the first few chapters of his novel is how, even if you cut your water consumption, it would not necessarily mean that those in other countries without clean water would have access to, nor the money, to utilize your consumption-cutting. However, there is an incredible movement from UNICEF that donates more clean water to impoverished countries, the less you use your cell phone. So if you set down your cell phone without texting, calling, checking Instagram, etc. for even 10 minutes, you can provide a child with water for a day. The longer you go without your phone, the more good you are doing for those without access and funding for clean water. I encourage everyone to check out the website and challenge yourself to do good for not only others, but for yourself!

http://tap.unicefusa.org/

This book is opening my eyes to many startling, unsettling, and fascinating facts about water. It truly is such a wonder that is so easily taken for granted.

Home is Where the Heart Is

"I never felt easy till the raft was two mile below there and out in the middle of the Mississippi. Then we hung up our single lantern, and judged that we was free and safe once more. I hadn't had a bite to eat since yesterday; so Jim he got out some corn-dodgers and buttermilk, and pork and cabbage, and greens--there ain't nothing in the world so good, when it's cooked right-- and whilst I eat my supper we talked and had a good time. I was powerful glad to get away from the feuds, and so was Jim to get away from the swamp. We said there warn't no home like a raft, after all. Other places do seem so cramped up and smothery, but a raft don't. You feel mighty free and easy and comfortable on a raft" (Twain 134).

The dictionary defines home as "the place in which one's domestic affections are centered", "an institution for the homeless",  or "any place of residence or refuge". To Huck and Jim, their raft serves as their oasis; a refuge from the struggles in their lives and a place where the two of them can spend time learning much about themselves and each other. When someone deems a place worthy of being called 'home', there is something special about that place. Granted some people might not consider a raft a very typical home, to Huck and Jim, the fresh air, open space, and freedom from the shackles of their old lives allowed them to see and experience new things that brought them great joy.

Home does not have to be a building with a front door, kitchen, bathroom, and bedroom. Home does not have to have a roof, windows or a lawn. Home is simply the place where you are able to be most yourself, feel most loved, and feel safe. Huck and Jim found the perfect home for them on that raft. It's so humbling to remember that home is less about the items within it and more about the people that you share it with. Jim was such a great influence on Huck. He forced Huck to grow up, become a more loving boy, and put faith into perspective for him. Without that raft, perhaps both individuals would be looking at lives much grimmer.

Mineral Wells

This weekend I took an adventure to Mineral Wells state park. This beautiful stretch of land is an hour away from campus, boasting lush greenery and a beautiful water front. We rented a canoe and took to the water for an hour, begging our arm muscles to propel us onwards against the wind current so we could see as much of the park from the water as possible in our hour timeframe.

Fort Worth doesn't necessarily host some of the most beautiful waterfronts in Texas that I've ever seen, but an hour west, trekking past Weatherford and into the small town of Mineral Wells, certainly does. Sunday was sunny with barely a cloud in the sky, meaning that an activity including water was required. We did not even dare begin the day with a hike...a canoe and oar was much more appropriate for the temperature. We made our way into the small convenience store and rented a canoe from a sweet 10-year-old girl, who was eager and excited to be working behind the counter. It was funny to me, thinking about how much this work on a Sunday meant to her and what a treat it was to be there with her grandfather exchanging oars for cash while most people would not work on a Sunday without putting up a fight. It was humbling to see this and made me remember what a blessing and, if you're happy with your field, joy work can be.

Once receiving our lifejackets and oars, we were directed to the water where we hoisted the very hot silver canoe into the murky water. The edge of the shore was so muddy, my flip-flops were being sucked down so I was forced to take them off. I was wondering if this body of water hosted life (which I later realized was a sort of silly question considering there were families fishing just a few feet away.) We began to paddle against the wind, admiring the greenery and loveliness of the mini oasis. It's moments like this that words aren't really necessary. We were both so at peace simply steering our canoe to the middle of the water and continuing to be in awe of the nature surrounding us. We had to stop to take breaks every so often to give our arms some rest and to simply sit, and let the water lead us to the direction it desired (a brief dip of toes and arms into the water was also necessary considering the extreme heat.) I haven't felt so at peace in quite a while. We didn't have a cell phone, camera, or any other personal belonging besides a water jug. That was a blissful state. Being so in awe of the captivating natural world around us that we didn't care who had uploaded a picture on Instagram within the past five minutes or who was texting us to make plans for later in the day. It's times like these that I grow very agitated with the world we live in today. Yes, I too love social media as much as the next American and yes, I too have an alarming attachment to my iPhone...but this needs to stop. Our world is growing and evolving around us (naturally) without us even taking note. We're all too consumed with worrying about the evolution and growth of technology to take a look at what Mother Nature has been up to!

Canoeing the Mineral Wells lake was a perfect primer for this course. I'm so anxious and intrigued to learn more about water and about its haunting stillness and beauty.

What does Literature and Civilization mean to you?

Answer #1:
"Literature is art in the written form. Civilization are the formations and creations of human habitations."

Answer #2:
"Literature to me includes novels and classic, well-known pieces of writing. Civilization is an accumulation of thoughts, ideas, and culture that changes and evolves over time."

Answer #3:
"Literature encompasses every written work, so it is hard to pinpoint one definition. Civilization is the world we live in today."

A variety of answers came from my interviews in regards these terms. I think, however, that the answer #1 is most in line with my thoughts on how we can most succinctly define the two terms. As we discussed in class, literature is a broad term that many people can argue upon defining. (Can we define a magazine, comic strip, or autobiography as literature?). Civilization, on the other hand, has a more well-agreed-upon connotation.