Hunting Laughter

Well, as if finals weren’t enough stress this week, my car’s engine light came on. Consequently, I was forced to hunt laughter at an establishment near campus, so I decided to stake out at Pizza Snob. Although this picture does not capture it well-due to poor timing and attempting to be inconspicuous- I was able to observe a father (pictured) uncontrollably laughing with his ten year old son (not pictured).

While I was waiting for my pizza to bake, I overheard their conversation about putting together a remote control. The father commented that this time they needed to make sure they have all the parts first, which prompted the laughter from his son. From my inference, this conversation may have been in reference to an earlier attempt to put the remote control together either without following directions or without all the needed parts.

The father who initiated the laughter, chuckled as he was telling his son to confirm they had all the parts before putting it together. The son quickly escalated the chuckles into laughter as he reminisced about this past remote control building mishap, which prompted more laughter again from the father.

This outbreak was certainly contagious. Nearly immediately after the father started laughing, the son joined in. In fact, if I hadn’t chosen a table right next to them, in order to best eavesdrop for this assignment, this outbreak may have lasted much longer than it did. Unfortunately, my fading inconspicuous guise ended the laugher from the father, and the two left shortly after.

Overall, after overhearing this incident I wanted to laugh. The father-son memories of building toys incorrectly are certainly something I have witnessed in my own family. Laughing about mistakes, especially over dinner, just proves the value and bonding nature laughter carries into relationships.

Learning Experience 4: Fall Semester Reflection

This first semester of my sophomore year has taught me numerous lessons. Although there are not as many major milestones as is characteristic with your first year in college, there is still a lot I can take away from my experiences.

This fall I learned that dropping a class is not the end of the world. Early into this semester I was struggling in a class from a lack of communication and a particular teaching style of one of my professors. I had two options. One, continue to struggle in the class and get a poor grade, or two, take the class with a different professor next semester. I am not one to give up on challenges or quit when it’s hard, but with some reassurance from my advisor and older business students, I decided to drop this class as it would benefit me more in the long run.

In addition, I learned the process of leasing a house. Luckily I had the help of my mom and all of my roommates’ parents because I had absolutely no idea where to begin. During the initial phases, we would find a house, sign up for a tour, and then by the time the tour was scheduled, someone had already leased it. From this we learned that next year we should start looking earlier into the semester especially if we want to be by a certain area on campus. After we looked at two houses, we found one that we really liked and aggressively took steps to secure it. This was a new process for me as I had never leased a house before, and had to put a lot of extra time into working with the agent and finding convenient times for us all to get together. In the end, we ended up with a perfect four bedroom house in walking distance from campus.

In this class I learned a lot about humor, its theories, and how to attempt to make writing funny. I learned that I laugh mostly via the incongruity theory and superiority theory as I find humor in movies such as Elf or Napoleon Dynamite to be the most comical. Furthermore, I learned that honors classes are my favorite classes. When people ask me what my favorite classes have been this one definitely tops the list along with my honors international politics class I took with Dr. Cox the first semester of my freshman year. I really love being around students who are motivated to learn, can uphold insightful discussions, and provoke new questions and perspectives. I am extremely disappointed that this is the last honors class that I will take since I am going to pursue the departmental honors track in order to leave room for a double major.

Overall, this semester I have learned a lot about myself. From my conversation partner, Ailin, I have learned that there are many things associated with language and American culture that I take for granted. I don’t experience near the pressure that is evoked from the Chinese education system or from being an only child. I was reminded of the importance and benefits of interacting with people from different cultures and the new perspectives and mindsets they can offer. I have learned how to overcome academic struggle, as well as uncovered a new interest in accounting and as a result the process of adding another major. This semester I have learned that my family can always make me laugh in nearly any situation and that life is a journey filled with some experiences you just can’t predict or prepare for. I have learned the power in taking time to reflect on what I have learned, and in doing so can see the growth and progress that comes every step of the way.

 

 

 

Meeting Ailin Part 6

This last meeting with Ailin was the shortest one yet. Not because we didn’t have anything left to talk about, but because Ailin has finals in two days. Although she said she was not too worried, I could tell she was a little stressed. I wanted to talk about something that would take her mind off of finals, but before I started a new topic, she confided in me.

Similarly to me, Ailin studies best in her room, alone and in the quiet. I have never been one of those people who studies better in the library or around other people. In fact, when dead days occur, I pretty much never leave my room except to eat. Ailin is the same way. However, as of recent her roommates have been staying up late and being loud. Ailin asked me what she should do. She expressed her concern with being able to study in her room if her roommates were not cooperating. As someone who has had roommate problems in the past, I told her the best way to solve the problem was to communicate because they might not even realize what they are doing. Ailin is good friends with her two roommates, so I hope this advice helps.

Over winter break Ailin is going to New York City. Her mom is going to meet her there and together they are going to go shopping, eat at some nice restaurants, and visit museums. Ailin was excited about this because she was also a little homesick. I can’t imagine going four months without seeing my mom as Ailin has had to do, so I’m sure this trip will be refreshing. However, Ailin did express concern with how she was going to get to the airport. Again, I was not totally sure how to answer her, but said the best way is probably to ask a friend who lives in Dallas to give her a ride, or take the shuttle. Once I described a little bit more about how all that worked, she seemed to calm down again and the rest of the conversation was more relaxed.

One of Ailin’s favorite holidays that we talked about was the celebration of the New Year. Ailin does not celebrate Christmas, but New Years is an important holiday in China. The Chinese New Year holiday lasts seven days. Each day she goes to a different family’s house. For example, one day she will go to her grandparent’s house, and another day will be at her aunt’s house. All of her family gathers there and they cook, play games, and spend time together.  There are also firework displays and a parade which is Ailin’s favorite part of the celebration. I had seen pictures of the Chinese New Year before, but from the way Ailin was describing it, it sounds like an experience I would love to be a part of someday.

Overall, I have learned a lot from my conversations with Ailin. Not just from an academic standpoint, but also in the significance of meeting new people and all that they can offer in a relationship. I can confidently call Ailin my friend and we are already planning on meeting when we get back from winter break. While I hope I helped her with English, adjusting to TCU, and general life questions, I know she did the same for me. My perspectives, opinions, and horizons have been broadened with every conversation, as well as my understanding and connection to her as a person. I have enjoyed this project more than I could ever have predicted, and in a heartbeat would jump at the chance to do it all again.

Meeting Ailin Part 5

As my conversations with Ailin were drawing to a close, I wanted to provide any advice or help I could in these last meetings before finals and the end of the semester. I know that as a freshman finals can be especially intimidating. I was lucky enough to have my big and other older girls in my sorority to help me along the way for that first round of tests, and this is what I wanted to provide for Ailin. Sometimes, just a little advice or encouragement from someone older can make a big difference in feeling confident and finding motivation to finish the year as strong as it started.

Surprisingly, Ailin did not seem too nervous for her exams this upcoming week. When I pointed this out to her she explained that in China her final test was worth her entire grade. On the contrary, her classes here include other assignments such as homework and quizzes. TCU finals were certainly less pressure than back home in China, and Ailin was grateful for that.

And after this conversation, so was I.

I have always dreaded finals, but after talking with Ailin, I realized that I should have been more appreciative. The multiple test system is nothing to shame. One test counting for more percentage points isn’t as bad as one test determining the entire final grade. Once again, Ailin has helped me to realize something that I have been taking for granted and should be more thankful for all along. Several times she has broadened my views and opinions, allowing me to count my blessings, and this conversation was no exception.

In addition, this past week I was accepted into the study abroad program to Spain. I asked Ailin if she enjoyed traveling or had been to Spain before. Her response was that although she had never been to Spain, she really likes Europe. Her favorite place she has traveled to was Italy. Despite the fact that she got sick during this trip and had to leave early, her favorite memories were of visiting Rome and all of the old architecture. Perhaps this is where Ailin’s love of museums comes from.

Ailin also has some family members who have studied abroad. Currently, her cousin studies in Japan. She also has a best friend who studied in Germany. Ailin mentioned that she would love to go to Italy again with this friend instead of with her family, which made me laugh, but also appreciate her honesty. I can relate as traveling the world with my best friend would certainly be an adventure I would not turn down.

Ailin’s blunt honesty such as in conversations like we have had today sometimes catches me off guard. Whether she was attempting to create humor or not, it always makes me smile and realize how hard it must be to reflect the right tone in another language. As I’ve also learned in class, attempting to be funny in another language can take several years to master, if not longer. I’m sure that some of my humor has been lost on her as well. Either way, our conversations always end in a positive, energetic mood, both from the new insights I have gained, and my excitement for the next time we will meet.

 

Learning Experience 3: Dave Barry article

The Dave Barry article, “Tips for Women: How to Have a Relationship with a Guy”, was the funniest article I have read all semester. It was so funny, in fact, that I sent it to my mom to read, which of course as a journalism major and English teacher, she had already previously read. Needless to say, the humor in this article far outweighed my expectations, and after class today I found out it did for many other students as well.  

After reading the Nora Ephron article the class period prior, I was a little unsure of what to expect of Dave Barry’s article. In my opinion, the Nora Ephron article was not humorous. Although it was somewhat entertaining to read, it seemed more like a monologue of a girl undergoing puberty than comedy of the truth and pain of growing into a woman. In addition, Ephron’s article was undoubtedly more relatable to girls and minimally relatable to guys. However, the extreme exaggeration was even hard for me and the other girls at my table to relate to, which is why I struggled to find the humor in the article.

On the other hand, the Dave Barry article was relatable to both genders. Regardless of its exaggeration used to create the humor, it was still relevant to both sides. This is where I think the Nora Ephron article failed and thus lost most of people’s attention. Dave Barry did a good job of toeing the line when it came to exaggeration and playing on both gender’s stereotypes, versus isolating just one as seen in the Ephron article.

This article was also funny to me because I have grown up with brothers. Learning to communicate with them was task I was faced with every day for eighteen years. Don’t get me wrong, I had my flaws too, but there were just some tendencies covered in this article that rang true to a point.

Furthermore, many of my relationship problems with boys have been due to poor communication. This semester I had one such relationship, in which my mom, uncle, and even brothers guided me on how to handle. I think nearly every point they told me in how to communicate with this boy was covered in this article, so as I read this piece of writing I felt like I was reliving my relationship this semester and I couldn’t help but laugh.

In addition to relatability, humor is constructed through accurate diction and expressive metaphors. My favorite line was one that we discussed in class as Barry associated a guy in a relationship to an ant on top of a truck tire. Although this is an obvious exaggeration, this comparison added to the illustration Barry was creating in reference to the man’s comprehension of a relationship, supporting his focus of the article.

This article along with every day interactions serve as yet another reminder of the different communication strategies men and women have. While in some relationships I have learned this the hard way, Dave Barry does a good job of bringing humor to shed some light on the truths and common conflicts that can occur when men and women communicate.  

Meeting Ailin Part 4

Ailin and I met for the fourth time at our usual meeting spot. This was the first time we had met since before Thanksgiving break, so I was excited to hear about all of her new adventures. Ailin does not have the chance to fly home for any breaks, so she has been spending her time off in the dorm room or with her friends and their families in Dallas or around campus.

It was a few minutes into our conversation when one of Ailin’s friends came up to our table. She was also Chinese and was one of the people Ailin has been spending her breaks with. Ailin and her friend conversed for about a minute or two in Chinese, as I watched in the background. One thing that I noticed that was different than my conversations with Ailin was the louder voice she used and more confidence she spoke with. Chinese is her native language, so this was expected. However, it gave me the chance to see Ailin in more of a comfortable setting and interacting with someone who she clearly looked up to.

Once they had finished talking, Ailin introduced me to her friend. Her friend seemed excited to meet me, as she began to explain how she had also been a member of the Intensive English Program and had three conversation partners. Shortly after her friend left, Ailin apologized for the interruption. She explained how this friend is a junior and lives in Grand Marc. Ailin likes to cook Chinese food in this friend’s kitchen. I also learned that this is who Ailin spent fall break and part of Thanksgiving break with. As it turns out, Ailin was ill over Thanksgiving break. She had the flu, but this friend took care of her. I can’t imagine being miserably sick in a foreign country, but if I was I would want to have a friend as caring and genuine as the girl I just met.

When I began to describe my Thanksgiving break I mentioned that I went to the Baylor vs. TCU football game. Ailin quickly responded by saying she was also planning on going to this, but after she got sick she wasn’t able to. I reassured her that she didn’t miss too much with the exception of standing in torrential rain for eight hours and chilly forty degree weather. Ailin said she was used to the rain because back home in Shanghai it rained often. In Colorado it doesn’t rain much except for in the summer, so I wasn’t able to relate much to this or particularly enjoy the rainy days we had been having this fall. Furthermore, I was unprepared for the large amount of tornados and tornado warnings that occur. Ailin agreed with me that tornados are scary, but are nothing compared to the typhoons she has in Shanghai.

(As someone not experienced in natural disasters, I had to research what a typhoon was, and found out that it is a tropical cyclone or hurricane of the western pacific area and the China seas.)

Bonding over our fear of natural disasters and Thanksgiving breaks gone awry (see learning experience 2), Ailin and I had a conversation filled with both laughter and sympathy. Sharing our common experiences and fears led to a deeper understanding of each other and how, despite our different upbringings, we are not so different after all.

Uncontrollable Laughter 2: Wang Chao

To survive in my family, you must have the ability to laugh at yourself. With my two witty younger brothers and sarcastic grandpa, nearly anything can be made into a joke; a joke that is free to be referenced now and anytime in the future. Needless to say, if you make a mistake or funny comment it won’t get past anyone, and you can expect it to be brought up in any situation in the days and years to come.

At the dinner table, laughter is hard to suppress. Especially for this particular dinner with my aunt and uncle in town and my entire family gathered around at my grandparent's house. As usual, the meal began late due to my brothers’ basketball practice. When they finally arrived, the older of my two brothers, Jack, had the local newspaper in his hand with a picture of him and one of his teammates on the cover. The article was previewing the high school’s promising upcoming basketball season. The stage for laughter was set when my brother read part of the article which stated the height of his teammate at 6’6”, when in reality his teammate was a generous 6’1”. The obvious exaggeration was hilarious because in the picture my brother who is 6’4”, and going to play college basketball next year, was towering over his teammate who was listed at 6’6”. Basketball rosters are known for adding an inch or two to your current height, but five inches was enough to get a chuckle out of everyone.  

Once the laughter subsided, my mom mentioned to my brother that when he was younger, the doctor actually predicted him to be even taller than 6’4”. After a moment of thought, Jack commented “Wow, I can’t believe I have gone my whole life without knowing that.” Following a prolonged silence, my youngest brother, Mark, chirped in “Oh, and uh, by the way, you’re also adopted.” The entire table erupted into laughter. Following this my uncle threw in “Your name is actually Wang Chao”, and my grandpa added “Yeah, you were a little too tall to be Chinese,” as the comments snowballed and the entire table laughed until tears fell.

While this may be an instance of you had to be there for it to be funny, and the comments now may seem to be poking fun at stereotypes, it was in no way intended to be negative, but rather making fun of my brother who is tall and under immense stress for basketball recruitment. This response was most likely a relief from all the pressure he has faced in choosing a school and maintaining the high expectations from his coaches on the basketball court. Every day it seems he is asked where he is going to commit, and with family in town, the conversations only accumulate. Poking fun at Jack’s height and talent for basketball seemed only appropriate to relieve the tension for everyone and making light of this overbearing subject.

Undoubtedly it was Mark’s incongruous comment that sparked the outbreak of laughter from everyone. Jack is built exactly like my uncle and looks nearly identical to my mom’s side of the family. The remark referencing adoption in conjunction with the use of superiority theory by isolating my tall and thin brother and juxtaposing him with a nation lesser known for their height or basketball skills was enough to get everyone laughing, involved, and bursting with humorous comments for the rest of the night.