Today was the Study Abroad Fair at work, and like a good little shepherd I went down there to hawk my wares since we do have a new program to announce for next summer. (Coming next year: Morocco and Sicily 2007)
I think I’ve forgotten repressed what last year’s event was like, because I did have slight flashbacks of it as I stood in the heat, wilting like a dying flower.
A lot of the students who come to the fair are trolling: they wander by and pick up everything they can get their hands on (Adam stopped by for a bit and asked in the most incredulous way: “Do any of them actually ask questions??”) It will wind up in a big pile on their desk, dresser, or dorm room floor, and at some point they may actually look at the first two or three items before the rest of the stuff winds up in the trash. These students will not read the three page, black and white photocopy that I provided them because it is not glitzy, glamorous, and printed on recycled paper. I mentioned to both Samer and Adam (next year’s leaders) that all of our advertising next year must include photographs of students partying and bare-breasted native women. Boobs and beer, that’s how to get them into your booth.
One of the staffers from European Studies — she was across the aisle from me, and we made faces at each other most of the day — would periodically compare notes with me to establish which one of us got the more ridiculous question. Among some of the winners:
- “Do you have programs specifically for Electrical Engineering students?” (No: all of our programs are open to students from all majors, but we’re a Liberal Arts program that has not, at any point in its history, had any students double major with Electrical Engineering, so it wasn’t high up on the priority list).
- “If I study abroad, do you know if I can take physics classes?” (I guess? But more importantly, is comparative physics a big topic? Do they teach different physics in the Middle East than they do here?)
- Do you offer any American Studies courses? (Well, we’re the Middle Eastern Studies department, so … have you tried the Center for American Studies? The name kinda gives it away … )
However, it was agreed by late in the afternoon that I had the ultimate winner. One of the students trundled up to me and said: “So, I’m, like, interested in studying the Middle East and stuff.” Oh, dear.
But I’m home now. The sun is shining, Ray is mowing the lawn, and the dog wants to go for a walk. And my vacation starts in two days …
