Sarah- CP2

I met with Sumayah Friday afternoon at Starbucks for the first time. She is from Saudi Arabia and she brought her baby to our meeting, who is only 2 months old, adorable and a great conversation starter! Any time it got a little bit awkward, we just played with little Layal! She is so sweet and I really enjoyed my time with her. While we met, her husband and other two daughters (wow!) went to Chuck E Cheese. She tried to buy my coffee for me, which was so nice. But I explained that I had a gift card so really, our coffee was free!

Sumayah and her husband brought their family to America for the educational opportunities here. She goes to school full time and he goes part time. We had a girl moment, when I commented, "So he stays home most of the time and watches the kids?" When she said yes it's nice, I said without thinking, "Welcome to America!" In hindsight, this could have been bad, but she responded enthusiastically with "I love America!" and said that wouldn't happen in Saudi Arabia.

She was also talking about traveling to Tampa, and how much she liked visiting there, because it was so much more like her home town than Tallahassee is. She even knew International Mall! She likes Juicy Couture and Luis Vuitton! It's so funny how far the gelly coated fingernails of fashion can reach.

She showed me how to write her daughter's name in Arabic: ليال
And mine too! سارة


We talked a lot about the differences between Saudi Arabia and America, and what the hardest part was about adjusting. She misses her family at home and especially her mom, so I had to share that my mom cries every time I leave home. She thought it was very funny, especially because my parents live in Tampa! We have agreed to meet on Friday afternoons, and maybe at lunch, if I can. Looking forward to it!