I had an interesting conversation with one of my dorm mates the other day.  I live in between two international students, so my conversations with them are always memorable.

  
But this day’s conversation (which started over a tasty sampling of food for the international fair that was the next day,) was particularly eye-opening.

  
Although I have lived next to her all year, it never occurred to me where she was from.  I know it was somewhere I wasn’t familiar with, since I have often heard her talking through the seemingly paper thin walls, in a language I didn’t recognize (which turned out to be French – my high school French teacher would have had my head!).  After eating the food that made my lips burn in a very satisfying and delicious way, I asked her.

  
When she told me, I knew that it was a country in Africa, but was at a complete loss as to where.  I found myself feeling a little guilty because of it.  Our conversation progressed to laughing at the Ft. Wayne “International” airport, with all of its six gates, and her travels from her home country to here.

  
“When I landed in Switzerland,” she said, “some guy offered to help me and asked me where I was from.  When I told him, he knew exactly where it was, and had heard of it.  The same thing happened in Ft. Wayne, and they just stared at me.”

  
It occurred to me at that moment that Americans, not all but a good percentage, are ignorant to the world around us.  Sure, geography classes and CNN are great learning tools, but when it comes down to it, we’re culturally and geographically challenged.

  
I’m not saying it’s the fault of anyone, just a product of our country being isolated geographically.  People in Europe and Africa are more rich in this area because there are a multitude of little countries all grouped together.  Many countries share borders with more than two or three other countries, making travel and therefore knowledge of other countries more accessible.

  
We have the unlucky sandwich between Canada to the north and Mexico to the south.  Further south, yes, there are more countries in South America, but to my knowledge, those countries are even less known. 

  
America is supposed to be the melting pot – and we might be, but the harsh truth is that the further inland you travel, the more and more unicultural it becomes.  The coasts, east and west, are a good mix of different cultures, and people there seem to have a better understanding of the world around them.  Inlanders have little need for such things, since most immigrants don’t make their way this far.

  
Manchester College is a different case, since we host many international students and understand and harbor their customs. 

But it is almost shocking how sometimes some people, even ourselves, can be so ignorant.  It’s not completely anyone’s fault, but it doesn’t hurt to ask or study a little.

  
Admittedly, I don’t know where my other neighbor is from, but you better believe I am going to ask.

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