The last marketing class

There is an exchange student in my International Marketing (IM) class this semester. Her name is Kate, and she is from Monash Australia. During the last class, the prof. asked her, "So, how was your experience at the Malaysian campus?" Kate said, "Different." The prof. asked again, "How different?" She hesitated and answered, "Just different". Then, the class fell into an awkward silence.

It seems odd that an Australian postgraduate student would choose to come to Monash Malaysia, because the course selection here is very limited compared to the Australian campus. Furthermore, Kate is doing a Master of Marketing, a course not offered here. Perhaps there are some overlaps between marketing and international business, but she was definitely up for some disappointments when at least 2 elective courses got cancelled at the beginning of the semester, leaving her no choice but to take IM.

The prof. of IM (Y) is an old guy who is kind of in his own world. I got him last semester for "Marketing and International Consumers", and vowed to never take his class again (I should have known better that the opposite always happen when you vow not to do/have something). Y may be very knowledgeable in his field, but he definitely does not communicate well to the class. Every time I thought he is explaining an example, it would end up being irrelevant to the topic. Every time someone asks him a question, he would end up not answering the question, leaving everyone more confused.

I gave Y an average review last semester. I am sure Y knows how he performs based on the students' unenthusiastic response . It was rather funny and bold that someone in the class should ask him today, "Sir, would you grade us better if we grade you better?" Luckily, he just brushed the remark aside.

Y looks like he is over 60yo. He mentioned that he lived in Australia for many years; however, he still speaks with a heavy Indian accent. I wonder why he decided to teach in Malaysia. It doesn't seem like he is acculturated to the local culture. It must be difficult to change for someone at his age. Perhaps the class should cut him some slack.

"You guys are smarter than me, and your children will be smarter than you," these are some of the final words of Y. Time sure is merciless.