Blog 6: Potluck and farewell

Yes, the ever-awaited potluck finally arrived to my Chat Café last week! I made Cheesy Potato Casserole, one of my personally favorite comfort foods especially when there's cold weather outside. Other dishes brought by my group members included dumplings, chicken floss, Taro balls (still not totally sure what these are, but they were tasty!), and millet gruel. Over dinner, we talked about plans after graduation, Thanksgiving break, and the upcoming end to the fall semester. I think the potluck went really well. The food was great, the conversation was even better, and it was a nice change from the ordinary flow of the circle. My only regret was not taking more pictures...

I cannot believe the semester is almost over, and with it, my experience as a Chat Café facilitator. I feel like it was just yesterday that I was anxious about leading the first circle back in September. Of course now, all of those nerves seem silly in retrospect. Especially since I have learned so much by being a facilitator:

1. It's OK when circles don't go exactly as planned. One time, I had asked all members to bring in a current event to talk about during the circle. However, once I asked what people had brought in, it seemed like people had forgotten about the "assignment" and were bashful to speak up. So, the conversation turned into one about China's repeal of the one-child policy, and I learned a lot while also offering my own perspective as an American who has never lived under anything like that federal policy.
2. Some weeks won't always be as dynamic as others. Some conversations provoked thought and required very little facilitation by me; other times, I felt like I was throwing out conversation topics every two minutes. These situations are the very nature of human discourse though. Sometimes, talking with other people isn't always the most exciting thing, especially since everyone brings their own range of moods, emotions, and attitudes into each interaction. While we are to provide Chat Café with a space to practice conversational English and we should strive to make these spaces dynamic, sometimes it's just too unpredictable to know for certain.
3. The international student experience is truly a unique one that spans across all dimensions of student life. This is the first time I've worked with international students for an extended period of time, so I've learned a lot about how their life is so different from other students here on campus. 

If you are reading this as a potential Chat Café facilitator or you are preparing to lead your first group in a couple of weeks, get ready to have a wonderful experience. It certainly won't always be roses and you may face some obstacles, such as attendance or participation, but I am sure you will learn a lot and grow. Good luck!