After several missed meetings, Omar
and I finally made our third meeting the week after Spring Break. Most of our
time was spent discussing what we had been up to and what we had going on for
the remainder of our school year. As the semester comes to a close, I realize
now how much I am going to miss these opportunities to meet with Oscar. Oscar
is more than just a conversation partner to me; he has become one of closest
friends here at TCU.
During
his Spring Break, Omar spent most of his time in Houston visiting his
family. His parents and younger siblings
traveled up from Venezuela to visit Omar and his older brother who also lives
in the United States. Apparently, there are several cities in the United States
where people from outside the country can come to renew their visa. Houston is
one of these cities, and his older brother needed to have his visa renewed. I
also learned that Omar’s parents intend to send his younger brother to the
United States next fall to start high school. They feel that the education
system in Venezuela is lacking and would like for his younger brother to be
better integrated into American culture when he enters college. His younger
brother will live with the people Omar currently stays with. His parents wish
they could come to the United States, but they run an established cell phone
distribution business in Venezuela that they don’t feel they can leave behind.
Omar also
mentioned that he and several of the other IEP students had planned to do
something fun together before the semester ended. What is Omar’s idea of
something fun? Skydiving. He invited me to join them, but as somebody who is
absolutely terrified of heights, I’m not sure I’ll be able to accompany them.
Omar’s thirst for excitement and adventure is just part of what makes him such
a fun conversation partner to have.
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