Rational Man

Was walking to my GBB class this morning when I noticed some people from my class walking on the other direction. I asked where they're heading, and apparently the class was changed! I asked if they're sure, and being me as usual (I'm ALWAYS wrong about these things) I quickly maneuvred and walked with them to the other building.

Well for once I was right. We were just sitting there for 15 minutes when someone told us that the class is happening on the building I was heading at first! I beamed with pride of actually knowing where the class is, before I realized that me too am in the wrong building.

So we made our way back to the original building, and I was talking to this guy for the first time. He asked me where I'm from and we talked about the Dutch vs International students mentality.

"You see, you come from a we-mentality country. We here have an I-mentality. Get it?"

"Yes. But dont you think that you shouldnt take it as a fact, shouldnt you take into account there is another way of thinking about stuff?"

"Yes. But dont you agree that you too should?"

It was a really simple and short morning conversation between two strangers. It got me thinking, though. Maybe I should learn to be less naive, to be less altruistic and resembles what economists always assume humans are: rational men.