When I taught English as a Second Language (ESL) at the private school, I used to ask my students. “Where are you going for college?”

Everyone would answer either Washington State, somewhere in Oregon, or California.

I thought their answers were intriguing. I wondered about what part of the west coast that attracts them.

The weather? The diversity? Certainly can’t be the price of the tuition or the cost of living. The tuition for international student is insanely high. I faint even looking at the tuition rates for residents. Also, the registering for classes is like a never-ending musical chairs there. It’s super unpredictable.

Maybe they are just so crazy rich that they don’t really care. Like my cousin says, “It’s only 40,000 dollars,” or that guy from the bookstore tells me, “It’s only 60 dollars.” They make money sound like it’s just a bunch of paper. I guess that’s the difference between rich and poor.