The languages of Coe.

I was reading in the library last night, trying my hardest to concentrate on The Second Treatise of Government by John Locke. Locke is no easy read and it takes every ounce of concentration to stay focused with the task at hand. Needless to say, I was more than slightly annoyed by a couple pairs of students who were working on projects around me, talking away. While I was trying my hardest to focus on Locke’s views regarding the state of nature, there was an incessant buzz of conversation distracting my thoughts.
Then I just gave up and started listening. Two students behind me were studying for an upcoming macroeconomics test. I recognized the familiar terms about supply and demand and was a little interested. The other two pairs of students, however, I could not understand. It wasn’t because they were taking an advanced course, but rather, they were speaking different languages. I recognized two of them were speaking Japanese and the other two were speaking Nepali. As my thoughts drifted from Locke, I started thinking about how cool it was to sit in a room where three different languages were being spoken.
Coincidentally that night when I went to dinner, I came in to see a couple of my friends sitting at a table with a couple Japanese students. I joined them and introduced myself and ate in their company, speaking to them about Coe, myself, English and our culture. It was a great learning experience for me, and definitely not something I would have ever learned sitting in a classroom.
I checked with the admissions office today and discovered that we have 16 countries represented this year at Coe. I have met a number of these students. I am intrigued by all of them, their backgrounds and their different vantage points on my country and culture. There is so much to be learned here, and once again I find myself learning from my fellow students.