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quite
sure where I’m supposed to go.”  The woman nodded understanding. 
    “If you go down this hallway here,” she pointed to Rachel’s
left, “and follow it all the way around, you’ll come to a big briefing room. 
Go ahead and sign in on the table and find a seat.  That class really helps you
out, and it is fun, too.  Enjoy!”  Rachel thanked the woman and followed her
directions to the big briefing room.  She hurriedly signed her name on the sheet
outside the room and chose a seat that was near the middle of the classroom,
but right in front of the projector.  She didn’t want to miss anything. 
Pulling out her notebook, she opened it to the first page, took out both a pen
and a pencil, and put them on top of the notebook.  She was ready to go.  She
chanced looking around her.  She was the only person in the room.  She frowned
and checked her watch.  It was only seven fifteen.  Usually people should
already be there.  She had been taught to always be fifteen minutes early,
otherwise she was late.  Apparently, that courtesy didn’t extend to the rest of
the people that would be in the class with her.  Rachel spent her time looking
out the window towards the parking lot in front of the little mini mall.  She
saw cars starting to arrive, and watched as people in uniforms and dress
clothes alike walked in.  She was so busy staring, that she didn’t realize that
there was some commotion behind her.  The room was starting to fill up.  She
could feel a little thrill of excitement squirm up her back.  She resettled
herself and got comfortable.  She was ready for class to start.
    “Good morning, everyone!  I hope everyone has gotten a
chance to get used to the time difference.”  A portly older man with glasses walked
in from the back of the room.  He had on a tweed vest with khakis, and sensible
shoes.  He looked like someone’s kindly old grandpa.  Rachel smiled at him.  He
opened his briefcase and started to gather his materials for the class.  As he
did so, he handed a stack of papers to the young man that was sitting closest
to him and asked him to pass them out.  He warned them that today was going to
be the worst day of the week, and that was why they were doing it first.  Today
was all the forms and paperwork needed to be filled out for their paychecks and
a map so they could get around, to include some local area things that might be
necessary; i.e. schools, car rental places, restaurants, etc.  Rachel was doing
her best to keep listening to him while she was browsing her own copy of the
list.  It didn’t sound like these places hated Americans.  It even mentioned at
the top that these places all spoke English as well.  The day was indeed
tedious, but at least now the boring part was finished, and the next day would
begin with the culture learning.  Rachel packed up her pens and pencils, tucked
her notebook back under her arm, and walked across the street again to her
room.
    She didn’t really know what else to do, and she was still a
little too shy to try to mix with people that happened to be passing by.  She
determined to stay in her room and read.  She pushed her pillows up against the
headboard and got comfortable.  She had a few hours to kill before she went to
bed.  She still wasn’t quite accustomed to the time difference, so she was
still going to bed early, and waking up early to get herself on time.  The food
court closed at nine, so around eight thirty she went over and got herself
something from the Taco Bell.  She sat down in the food court instead of going
back to her room right away.  If there was something that Rachel enjoyed, it
was people watching.  You could tell so much about a person just by the way
they spoke or acted.  She finished her taco salad and took her tray over to the
trash cans.  As she did, she passed a group of young army guys that were
laughing and joking.  They were getting up, leaving their trays and mess on the
table