One of my conversation partners is Badar Belhaj. We had our first meeting at Atomic Coffee and, although he was a lower level student, I found that his conversational English was very good.
We discussed my background, born in Israel, grew up around the U.S., owning a business, and the normal get-to-know-you stuff. Later, when we talked about his background, I was really blown away. He was from Libya and grew up in Misratah, about half way between the two centers of conflict in the recent civil war, Tripoli and Benghazi. As the battle raged back and forth between the rebels and the government, Misratah was always in the middle. He and his friend fought as much to protect their homes and families as to choose a side. He said that he saw many of his friend die next to him in fire fights during the civil war.
We talked about what a different, yet not so different, environment the U.S. is. Even though life here is rarely out of the norm, he opined that with Oklahoma City, The World Trade Centers, and the like, even our "normal" existence here can turn on a dime.
It was amazing to me that the two of us growing up in such different cultures and backgrounds usually agreed on the fundamentals of what make a happy existence.
I think that I got more of a new perspective on a culture I really never talked with before.
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