I dread those 1st class “introduce yourself/what brought you here” pointless monologues... students talk like playing a recorded message while the professor is making a shopping list in mind...I’d love to skip those, but they drop you from class for absence...So, as if this wasn’t annoying enough, from across the room “Hi, my name is Gozde and I’m from Istanbul, Turkey working on my 2nd masters...”...I realized that she is the 1st Turk I’m actually looking at...Felt so weird. In mind, I seriously started debating dropping the class. It’s childish, I know. After the class, I stayed back to chat with the professor for a few minutes but Gozde took her time gathering her things, slowly left and held the elevator for me. I avoided eye contact, keeping busy with my phone, texting “there is a real Turk in my class!”...Gozde started talking, casual questions about the program, classes, etc. She was extremely nice considering that I was giving short scarce answers. Then she extended her hand and asked for my name, and my name is very telling, so I said it slowly - with a prominent Armenian accent. She said “oh” and gave me her european name to which I answered that I have no problem pronouncing Gozde... So, what is my impression. I felt STUPID because of the way I felt. And I look Armenian, (with my sidebraid and all) so she felt the need to make that much effort to be nice to me, compliment and chit-chat while everyone else catapulted toward their cars after late class. I felt sorry for both of us and still feel stupid.