Tuesday, 10/29/13. I met two of three conversation partners at the campus library. Our conversation covered first impressions of Tallahasee,
food, and classes. Neither are interested in sports, so they declined the invitation to watch a soccer match. We discussed how to order
food, types of salads and types of chicken on salad. This is were I introduced them to the Cajun custom of 'Blackened' meats (e.g. blackened
catfish, blackened chicken, etc.)
They observed that Americans do not like the way Arabs get there attention by pointing and snapping their fingers. I explained to these
Foundation level students that this is culturally offensive to Americans and gave the following example. An Italy male pinch a pretty female
to show his appreciation for her beauty. They were shocked by this behavior. I then compared their cultural displease to pinching a strange
woman, to American displeasure with having someone snap their fingers at them. I then took the opportunity to teach them the correct and
incorrect way of asking a female coed for directions. 'Excuse me miss,...'
I am meeting them for dinner at an Arab resturant on Thurday. This will be the first time I've eaten Arab food.
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