Conversation Partners Program 

I joined the Conversation Partners Program in January 2023 after looking for volunteering opportunities, and it was a great decision! I was interested in the program because I enjoy talking to new people and learning about other cultures. My first conversation partner Rosie was from South Korea. We met once a week for lunch or dinner and talked about our interests, food, and differences between life in the United States and South Korea. I learned that after school in Korea, students attend Cram School, where they receive extra tutoring to prepare for exams. Rosie cooked spicy pork belly with vegetables and rice for me, and it was fun to learn more about Korean cuisine—the meal was also delicious! My second conversation partner Diana was from Colombia. She was a doctor in Colombia and was working to become certified to practice in the U.S. We discussed the differences in science classes and medical school in Colombia compared to the U.S. I am an advanced Spanish-speaker, which enabled us to communicate more easily. Overall, the Conversation Partners Program has allowed me to learn more about other cultures from first-person perspectives, practice speaking other languages, and make new friends!