Melting Pot

A couple of days ago I received an email from the president of San Francisco State University (my current home for self-torture in the name of betterment). The brief message was of a congratulatory ilk, proudly informing the student body that, for the second year in a row, SFSU leads all the universities in the nation with regard to the number of international students enrolled.

Pretty cool, thought I. I love the idea that thousands of students come from all over the world to live and learn in San Francisco. I love hearing dozens of different languages spoken every time I walk across campus or get comfortable in the library.

The same day I received that satisfying email, I was riding a late-night train home from class, weary after another long day spent pushing my brain until it began making hissing noises (that can't be good, right?). I found myself sitting within earshot of two young male students: one Japanese, one German; both thickly accented. The German lad--tall, blond and strapping--confided to his Asian friend that he rarely drank beer.

His friend, barely able to contain his shock, replied, "But, dude, you're German!"

Posted by ayelet at November 17, 2006 10:47 AM