I was honestly worried that it would be an uncomfortable experience. .
Eventually, I agreed to go home with him. I was excited at the chance of meeting and interacting with people from a different background. His friend from home, who was attending Johns Hopkins at the time was also going home that weekend. He picked us up from Stevenson. .
When we got Thurmont, you could tell that the town was different from the suburban neighborhood I grew up in. Matt knew who lived in every building, who owned the stores. We drove past his church, his school, and his ex-girlfriend's house on the way to his house. There was something familiar about the small town. It was very quiet. When we arrived at Matt's home, he parked and we got out the car. His dad came out to greet us, I'm not sure if he was expecting us. He was very welcoming, but not overdone. He asked Matt about his plans, and told him about things they had to do at the church. It was the day before Halloween. This was the first major difference I noticed between our culture. African Christians condemn the celebration of Halloween. Matt was respectful in the manner in which he spoke with his dad. But their relationship was not typical of the father-son relationship I was used to. The joked together, Matt sometimes mocking his father. And the dad offered to help Matt bring in the things he brought from school. The manner in which they conversed suggested a friendship rather than a difference in role in the family. After being in the drive way for a few minutes we eventually walked in the house. It was clear by the furniture that they had been living in the house for years. There were family photographs everywhere. The home seem modest in design and furniture. .
The feel of the home was oddly familiar. It resembled my home in several way. The smell wasn't too alien, the kitchen and living room were organized similarly. I assume this could simply be a reflection of the fact that our families were from the same socio economic class.
