This is embarrassing to say, but I had no idea how internationally famous Wesleyan is. I haven't mentioned the school frequently, but twice in the past two days, I did happen to mention Wesleyan--once to the lecturer / researcher I am working with, and once today to a European Commission official I was meeting with for my research, and both times was blown away by the response.
Yesterday, my professor (which I suppose is how I shall refer to him, seeing as he was my professor last fall) heard me say I was from Wesleyan, when speaking with someone else, and he says later, 'I know Wesleyan'. I say, 'You do?', meaning, 'No you don't'. He says, 'I think there are a lot of people from Wesleyan who come to Amsterdam; is that right?' 'No,' I say, 'Just me last fall and no one in the Spring. We have one or two students there right now'. He says, 'But Wesleyan. I know that name.' He says sometime between 2 and 4 years ago he taught the class I took with him to another Wesleyan student--that he recognised the name. He oversaw her thesis. I couldn't believe that. Then he said someone, a professor, from Wesleyan, had invited him to come speak on campus. I thought, he must be thinking of Wellesley or he must be talking about Peter Rutland.
An hour or so later we're both on our respective computers, and he says, 'Aha! Here it is'. He's checking his e-mail records and he reads off a name. I say, 'What is that?' It is the student from Wesleyan. I think back and realise I know exactly who that is--a friend of mine from campus who just graduated, and who advised me on studying abroad in Europe directly after they got back from Amsterdam. I am astounded and flabergasted. I say, 'I knew [they] took a class there called Latin American development or something, and loved it--but I didn't know about your class! How funny!' O connections, the world, ah! O my! And then I ask, 'And the professor?' He searches his email again. 'A Professor Rutland'. I shriek with delight. 'Rutland! I knew it was Rutland! I didn't realise it would be [student's name], but I knew it would be Rutland! How fabulous!' And then I explain to him about Wesleyan Word Wednesdays and--better yet--the weekly CSS Monday lunches and talks and tell him he absolutely has to come in the future. He communicates, basically, that he has no intention of doing so, by saying he won't ever be in the area or in the U.S. I am disappointed. But isn't that funny? Then he says to me, 'Wesleyan. That's a big name, isn't it?' I say, 'Yes, but it gets confused with other names in the U.S., like Ohio Wesleyan and Wellesley'. I reflect on what has just happened. 'Ah, Rutland!' I say. 'I completely adore him. He's fabulous and famous, and of course very international. He was the chair of CSS. It would be Rutland. He's hilarious and brilliant'.
Today, with the European Commission official. He says, at the end, 'Which university are you from, exactly, again?' I say, 'Wesleyan University, in Connecticut, in the U.S.' He says, 'Ah, yes! Wesleyan. Yes, I was in Middletown once'.
WHAT.
He knows Middletown? He knows Wesleyan is in Middletown? You have got to be kidding me. This is absurd.
'Ah yes, I was visiting a friend there once, visiting the campus. Wesleyan. Very international school, good reputation--known for being a bit progressive, isn't it?'
Oh man. I come to Brussels, and finally someone (many people?) knows (know) what Wesleyan is.
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