Scary or not? (fourth meeting)

Meeting again over coffee, Monique and I told each other about what we had been up to since our last meeting. I had been busy studying for a few exams and working on a few assignments, as Monique was getting ready for an upcoming week of assessments. I asked her about what she had to do and she told me that she had journal entries and essays to write. In turn, I asked her what she had to write about. I learned that at her level, she was required to read “Freakonomics” throughout the whole semester and this was what she had to write about and what she was quizzed on. Moreover, she is expected to make a few group and individual presentations throughout the semester. She said that this is her least favorite thing to do because she is not the biggest fan of public speaking. I told her that for our class, we are expected to make a few group presentations too and that I feel the same way about presentations.

However, she brought up an interesting point. She said, “at least you aren’t presenting in a second language.” This really got me thinking because it made me realize how much harder it would be to be in her position. I tried thinking about making presentations in my second and third languages and thought about how much more terrifying that would be! In response, I told her that if she ever wanted to practice her presentations to anybody, I would be happy to listen.

We had enough with school talk so she asked me about my Halloween plans. She told me that she and a few of her Brazilian friends here had decided that they would all dress up as a Brazilian soccer team. In response, I asked her if Halloween is celebrated in Brazil and she told me that it wasn’t that prevalent but there are some Halloween-related events. I told her it’s the same case in Vietnam. We came to the conclusion that Halloween is more of an American holiday. But it was still interesting to recognize that Halloween is still somewhat prevalent internationally. I told her that I wasn’t sure about my Halloween plans yet, maybe watch a few scary movies or go to a haunted house with some friends.

Then, she told me that she didn’t like haunted houses. She didn’t like being scared. I said that I felt the same way but I enjoy scary movies and haunted houses if I am with a large group of friends. She agreed with me. She even said that going to a haunted house or watching scary movies with friends makes them funny.

This reminded me of the idea discussed in Morreall’s Comic Relief that humor is enjoyed in large groups and that humor can be a sign of security and safety. Maybe being in large groups gives this feeling of security and safety and therefore makes scary movies and haunted houses less frightening and instead, creates a humorous experience.