Different Worlds

As I stand in front of a classroom filled with 20 - 21 year olds, I wonder how we can be so different. One student pulls on her friend's dress as her friend tries to make a presentation. The whole class snickers when they hear the word “boyfriend” or “girlfriend”. Moreover, I have never seen my class more motivated to pay attention unless candy is involved. Just recently graduated from college, it is easy to see that we really are worlds apart. Their classroom maturity matches mine when I was an 8th grader. What really strikes me though, is how mature they are in other aspects of life.

The other day we were talking about dating in class, particularly dating people you meet through personal ads. (Why? The curriculum the school has set for me is all messed up with strange stuff.)

Anyway, the question posed was:
"Would you ever go on a date with someone you met through a personal ad?"

The first response I received:
"No, because it could be a trick. They kidnap you and sell you to other country..."

It was just a really striking response. I didn't know whether or not to change the topic of my class to that, because I really wanted to know what they thought. Curiosity got the best of me and I asked for clarification. One student, went on to tell me how she was nearly taken but escaped.

I get asked why I go everywhere by myself and whether or not I am afraid of being kidnapped. One guy once told me that if I ride around by myself enough, I probably will be kidnapped. It is strange and frightening to really consider this possibility because it is not something I ever seriously thought about while back home.

Regardless, I’m not in Kansas anymore (or the United States for that matter).