Abdullah Al Ghundaf’s comes from a family of farmers from a small town 8,000 miles away in Saudi Arabia. Grant-Michael Huber has spent his life in Albany. He has spent many Saturday’s at Reser Stadium, and spends time at OSU where his father is a professor at the veterinary hospital. Despite the distance and differences in upbringing, the two have formed a strong bond.

The two met through INTO’s Cultural Ambassador Conversant program. This program pairs domestic students with international students to spend time with each week. Activities range from attending a sporting event together, enjoying a meal with one another, or going on a hike. They get the opportunity to explore everything the community has to offer. Some of Al Ghunduf and Huber’s favorite activities include eating together or going to the gym with one another.

Al Ghunduf is currently a graduate Radiology student, and Huber is studying Sociology. Both had their own fears upon beginning at OSU. Al Ghunduf’s was concerned about safety and acclimating to life in a new country away from his family. Huber was worried about roommates and deciding on a major. Al Ghunduf was both intrigued and nervous about the many unfamiliar foods and the lack of the traditional foods he was used to. Despite their many commonalities, they both feel that it is actually their differences that drive them closer together.

Their first group activity was a meal at McMenamins with their third partner José, from Colombia. During that meal Huber introduced the two to Clam Chowder and Fish and Chips. They talked about a range of topics, from differences in food, to varying expectations of relationships and courtship. Huber found it intriguing that in Saudi Arabia it is common that a person’s family, specifically their mother or sisters, play such a pivotal role in choosing a future spouse.  He was even more struck by his partner’s drive to make every conversation meaningful, rather than just staying on the surface of a topic. “They asked more than generic questions, they always want to go deeper and make me think more about my response,” Huber recalled. This, he felt, was an extra layer of conversation that isn’t always present in his friends from the U.S. Moments like these have fostered not only not only the growth of their friendship, but has taught them how to adapt and take time to learn about others.

Upon his arrival, Al Ghunduf was more concerned about passing his U.S. driving test than making friends. Being immersed in a new language and culture has been daunting at times. Through his interactions with  Grant he has been able to feel more comfortable in his surroundings. He has learned about the culture of the United States and also Colombia. His involvement in the CACP program has been incredibly helpful in improving his English, especially in terms of slang and linguistic nuances that are difficult to pick up in a classroom setting.

He loves having the chance to ask questions and get explanations firsthand rather than make assumptions based on films or books. Al Ghunduf encourages other international students to take full advantage of their experience. “Study hard and make friendships to improve your English quickly, gain culture, and share your hobbies.” For him, this goes beyond just CACP, and includes being involved in activities he loves such as intramural soccer and swimming. He loves the atmosphere of Beaver basketball games and hearing the band perform.

Huber shares his partner’s desire to make the most out of every experience. “The worst thing you can do is say you want to join a running team then not do it,” said Huber. This is why he feels that it’s important to meet others and take risks rather than focusing too much on the now and letting the spectacle of college get you down.

It is this attitude that brought about the desire to get involved in CACP. Initially, Huber felt that he would be taking on the role of teacher, but has instead found himself in a constant state of learning. Beyond exploring different cultures, his time with his partners has taught him a lot about himself and how he interacts with others. While observing how his two partners interact, he noticed that José was talkative like him and could really get others to open up and share. However, he realized that Al Ghunduf was often more quiet and spent most of his time listening. A quality that he realized is just as valuable in a leader and is now trying to master the skill by learning from Al Ghunduf. “By doing less talking and more listening, I’m learning so much more about myself.”

One of their favorite experiences together was spending time at Dixon. Though they both already loved athletics and fitness, sharing these passions allowed them to learn and grow. Together, they played basketball to gauge each other’s level of competitiveness and athleticism. Although a seemingly simple interaction on the surface, it served as a learning experience for both. Huber felt that playing basketball together allowed them to be more open with each other, “We were all terrible, but had fun talking and just shooting the ball.” Al Ghunduf found that even though he exercises regularly, he was still able to grow during their time together: “I had some mistakes when I worked out alone, so it was really nice to go with José and Grant to learn new techniques.” Both felt that by sharing activities they both enjoy allowed them to grow on a personal level, as well as connect more with one another.

Despite coming from different countries and speaking different languages, the two have formed a true bond. Their involvement in CACP has gone beyond simply being fellow participants, but rather as Grant says “I can full-heartedly call us friends. We’re definitely friends.” This connection has allowed them both to grow not only in their cultural understanding, but also on a personal level and build a meaningful relationship that transcends culture or place of origin.