Wealth and Poverty in the Americas

I had my first class today. In short, I’m studying what has caused North and South America to grow at such different capacities. I.loved.it. Except for when the professor called on me to identify a picture.. Which I didn’t know was a part of a San Francisco bridge (not the Golden Gate).. Or when he asked why no one was on the bridge.. Which I didn’t know was because of the Super Bowl.. Or when he asked what the percentage of Americans living below poverty was.. Which I didn’t know, but neither did he.

On a more positive note: I was the only foreigner that actually showed up today. There should be two or three more in my class.

The Dutch aren’t playing around here. Friday, I mustered up the courage to email my professor over something unrelated and found out we had class today. Never got an email. It never said anything online. I then get to the site and the entire building is under construction. After walking through 3 nearby buildings I just so happened to stumble across a tablet with what seemed to list foreign last names —–> professors? offices? I stood outside his office door repeating, “You can do it, just get it over with. But did I miss something?” Before it’s too late, I get beckoned in. I nervously introduced myself to the professor who tells me, “Yea, just wait on the steps. We’ll find somewhere to go.”

Say what? How is anybody supposed to figure this stuff out? Does this system actually work? I’m learning the Dutch are very self-sufficient here… seen most obviously in their use of the bicycle. There’s no hand holding, but come on… give a foreign girl a break. First I just so happen to actually show up, and then I get asked questions on the spot about some bridge and the Super Bowl? And poor people? I don’t know anything about poor people.

Hey, at least I got noticed. And the professor now knows me by name  :)

While waiting at the bus stop I heard someone talking about how dumb Americans are with History. I’ll work on changing it… starting tomorrow…