Defying Gravity
By Caitlin Hall, UPP Intern
Last Friday I faced a multitude of opportunities: a.) I went to defy gravity for the first-time b.) I was involved with my first event for my internship and c.) I was surrounded by mostly strangers (my age) whose first language was not my own.
I drove students both too and back for this event, and this was my first real chance at verbal communications. And it was as I suspected it to be. The three spoke English, all at varying levels, but I had to replace my minor slang for more modern tones of speech. “Ya’ll got plans?”, in reference to the weekend, had to become “What are you doing this weekend?”. Mumbled explanations of Chinese could be heard in the back of the car. I knew they were trying to figure out how to word their answers. The ride there was definitely awkward-until the top 10 pop hits got on the radio.
Besides this, what truly struck me about this night wasn’t about verbal communication-it was our non-vernal communication. In the face of our strangeness to each other (in terms of familiarity) and without a strong basis of shared language we found other ways to talk. We'd jump side by side and we all knew one thing-laughter. We were having fun.
“It made me feel like when I was little,” Simon Li said, “it was a good feeling at that time.”
As students rotated from trampoline basketball–by far the most popular–to other stations, groups formed and everyone enjoyed jumping with friends. Girls threw foam squares to each other and helped others when one of their friends had difficulty getting out of the foam pit. “I can’t believe little kids are jumping so high! They’re so brave to flip themselves in the air!” Ruth Zhao said while she was waiting in line to jump.
“This is also my first time jumping, it’s awesome!” Lei, the UPP photographer intern said.
Lights pulsed and music played. Taking turns, we’d jump into the foam pits, and as my body got trapped in the quicksand like foam they offered their hands to help me out with no questions. Two people pulling my arms, and as I just couldn’t get a good grip (and honestly poor upper body strength) one jumped in to lift up my foot. We helped each other get in and out with the only real noises being simple commands, comments, and laughter. I took my friends camera and they happily would pose for pictures. Unanimous smiles and peace signs were abound.
The ride home wasn’t as awkward. Everyone was tired—and we still didn't know each other’s full names—but my questions were easily answered this time. “Did you have fun?” “Yes!” “What’d you like most?” “Definitely
basketball.” The three said in unison. I don’t know what to expect in this internship. I want to improve my intercultural communication, so I come in expecting nothing and always willing to learn. But there is one thing we all can’t over-look—laughter and fun is universal.
Together let’s learn more from each other.
Together let’s help.
