Meredith’s Musings | A Curiosity of Culture

article by MEREDITH MCKINNIE

A few months ago, I received an interesting request – to be a contact family for two exchange students from Tunisia. Having avidly played Globle over the course of the year, I knew Tunisia was in the northern part of Africa, though I knew little to nothing else about it. As the woman on the phone told me about the scholarship program that funded the students’ time in America, I Googled Tunisia and immediately beautiful beaches and old structures appeared, along with women covered in hijabs and bright white and red flags. Situated on the Mediterranean Sea between Algeria and Libya, and only a few miles from Sicily, Tunisia houses about 12 million people, and the predominant language is French, followed closely by Arabic. The woman explained that as a contact family, we would host the two women for dinner and could have as much interaction with them as we were willing to engage. My first thought was “YES!” What a magnificent opportunity for my girls to see and know someone from another culture. And we would play a part in their image of America. I felt it was such an honor to be asked, and I couldn’t wait to reach out to them.

I first met the women in my office, as they were taking classes at the University. They were overwhelmingly polite and excited to be in America. Having taught international students for years, I am always curious if the reality of our country meets their expectations. I remember asking a student about ten years ago from Brazil what she thought about America. She laughed and said our food portions were too big and we needlessly circulated parking lots looking for the closest spot to avoid walking. She wasn’t wrong. The Tunisian ladies asked me all kinds of questions, what sights to see and how best to move about the city. Ironically, they wanted to visit a Dollar Tree, intrigued by the popularity of thrift stores in America and likely on a tight budget. We settled on dinner at my house in the next few weeks. I agonized over what to serve them. I knew they didn’t eat pork and couldn’t consume alcohol, so Husband and I decided to serve grilled chicken, herbed potatoes, broccoli, and almond cheesecake. I tried inquiring about their preferences, but they brushed off the request and insisted I serve whatever I normally would. They wanted a genuine interaction with a typical American family? I immediately wondered, “Are we typical?’

When I picked up the women that evening, they both brought gifts – cookies and a wall hanging of a bright carved door, a common welcoming sight on Tunisian homes. My girls bounced in their seats, excited for a willing audience. The entire ride home, Wilder and Fable fumbled the women’s names and everyone roared with laughter. While I prepped dinner, the women played with the girls outside, jumping on the trampoline and playing hide and seek. One of them indulged Wilder’s tumbling lessons. After dinner, we chatted with the women. They were curious about our marriage customs. They were shocked how Husband handled the children and cleaned up while we visited. They wanted to see as much of the country as possible during their nine months in America. The curiosity and willingness to abandon all they know for the chance at adventure in another country humbled me. I don’t know if I would have been so brave at that age. Since then, I’ve followed the women on social media. They bounce from a campus event to a trampoline park, then from Black Bayou to a hole-in-the-wall restaurant, soaking up as much of our culture as they can. I’ve often wondered if they’ll learn more about our little corner of the world in their short time here than we ever will as locals. They’ve certainly seen more of America in the past few months than I have. Passionate and curious, they don’t have the luxury of time here, and so they use it well. It was a lesson in making the most of what we’re given and seeing our world through someone else’s eyes. For them, Monroe is wild and exciting and full of possibility. It does me good to remember that.