Math Mania

As a teacher I am not supposed to entertain the idea that some people are "math-challenged," but if such a person exists, I am the poster child. Americans not brought up on the metric system are at a distinct disadvantage when traveling abroad. Converting kilos to pounds, kilometers to miles and various currency to dollars can zap all that energy you need for enjoying your travels. Not calculating properly can mean giving half the amount to ten times more than the amount expected for a tip. No wonder everyone smiles at us and follows us around. We have "naive Americans" written all over us.