Kersten CP #4

On Saturday, February 4^th I met up with my conversation partner Luo Yi at Joy Luck Place at 11:30am for lunch. Joy Luck Place is a popular Chinese restaurant in Tallahassee. Once we got to the restaurant, we both ordered beverages. She originally asked for hot water, but the restaurant didn’t have any at that time. I asked about this cultural difference of hot water in China vs. cold water in America. I told her Americans prefer cold water, and when I went to China I didn’t expect to not have cold water there. I asked her how her week was because the Spring Festival, or Chinese New Year had just passed. She showed me some videos and pictures of the food she ate with her roommates and friends. Chinese New Year is a very significant holiday in China that really brings people together. The food she showed me from her phone looked delicious. I asked her if her and her roommates spoke English or Chinese at home because she told me she lived with all Chinese roommates. She told me they mainly spoke Chinese because it is their first language. I recommended trying to speak English more often at home because I really think that will help her improve her English. She agreed to try more. We also talked about different TV shows that we liked. Her favorite American show she likes watching is House of Cards. I told her some of the Chinese shows I liked watching as well. On the way back to her house, a Justin Bieber song came on and she asked me if I liked him. I said I used to like him a lot when I was younger, and she said she thought he was attractive. I was surprised to hear that Justin Bieber was popular in China as well at his peak. This sparked a conversation surrounding music, and she later emailed a song list of Chinese music that she thinks I’d like. This was super kind of her and I can’t wait to listen to her recommendations. I also said if she ever wants any English song recommendations, don’t hesitate to ask. This was a really nice meet up, and we agreed to meet up the next week.