Lessons in geography

The article in the Viewpoint column by Mr. Lawrence Pintak (The Jakarta Post, April 11, 1996) reminds me of a peculiar, yet interesting circumstance some ten years ago.

I was in my father's office when suddenly the boss' son entered the room. He asked my father's opinion on whether or not to accept some sort of a business "outstanding performance award," in exchange for a fee, of course, from an obscure institution in one European country.

The twist of the story is that the boss' son, who was educated in the U.S., asked my father: "Oom, this Madrid, is it somewhere in India?"

This anecdote is not meant to degrade the general educational system in the U.S.

ALBERTUS E. PRAMONO H.

Jakarta