Kim Clauson_CP 1

On Sunday, October 28, 2012, I met Mohammed Alqallaf.  We had talked extensively via slightly awkward and misinterpreted text messaging so I actually felt like I knew him slightly.  On Saturday, I was invited to meet at the Downtown Get-Down, but had to decline because I had other plans.  Either way, somehow we began talking about football first, then soccer.  We both admitted that we preferred soccer, but football was amusing, especially live games.

Once I met him at the Union, we seemed to have many topics to discuss.  We decided to go get tea and coffee from New Leaf Market, and to check out the festivities at the Cabo’s Annual Celebration.  Immediately upon my departure from the Union, I started to wonder if my Cabo’s idea was actually a bad idea.  I hope people aren’t going to be belligerently drunk, I thought.  It was already 5 pm and the locals at the party were certainly having a good time.  We watched the loud, classic Tallahassee cover band for a moment, and proceeded to get a drink from New Leaf market.  I could tell that Mohammed wasn’t very interested in the music, and I wasn’t either at that moment. 

I felt like Mohammed was slightly shy, but my enthusiasm for learning about him and his hometown, a.k.a. Kuwait City, Kuwait, made our conversations fun and rewarding.  We joked about various subjects, and could share a smile from time to time.  I learned during my conversations with Mohammed that Kuwait City was the only city in Kuwait.  I knew it was a tiny country, but I couldn’t help but feel a little ignorant for not knowing more about his country.