"OPI" really stands for "What was that word, again?"

So part of BYU's Jordan Study Abroad program includes the use of an "OPI"-- Oral Proficiency Interview. This test basically evaluates how proficient you are in a particular language. We take one before and after the study abroad in order to see how much we improve. I had my pre-departure Arabic OPI this morning and I just thought I would share a few shining moments:

Native Speaker: Tell me about something that happened to you this Summer, like a story, etc...
Me: Well, I was in a car accident with some of my friends.
NS: Really? Tell me more.
Me: Well we were driving... on the road (no. way.) ... (coming back from camping?? shoot, i don't know the word for camping)... and we... hit something on the road (lie. Our tire blew. But I don't know the word for tire, just the verb "to explode"... and for some reason I thought an exploding car would have been a little too dramatic).
NS: Wow! What did you guys hit?
Me: (Let's see I can remember the word for person, dog, water buffalo...) I am not sure what it is called in Arabic but we hit a part of another car that was in the middle of the road (lame lie.)
NS: Were there any injuries?
Me: Nope! Thank goodness (Good story, idiot).

NS: Tell me about your hobbies,
Me: I like swimming, hanging out with friends, running... (bla, bla, bla)
NS: What is your favorite hobby?
Me: My favorite hobby is swimming (WHAT?! Since when?)
NS: Tell me more about swimming, who you do it with, etc...
Me: Well I was born in California so I learned how to swim when I was very young and to this day I love being outside, especially during the summer since I love the sun.
NS: Did you ever compete?
Me: Yes, when I was younger in California.
NS: Tell me about a competition or something.
Me: Oh well I didn't like competing when I was younger so I didn't race very much.
NS: ... Okay well we can talk about something else.
Me: (Encore, Jordan, encore. That was brilliant).

As one of my fellow study abroad buddies so eloquently put it: "Welp, I guess the lower I score the more dramatic my improvement looks!" Amen sister, amen.