So true, Line, your comments are appreciated! Thanks for pointing out that phrase about learning before being taught. I interpreted it to mean taught formally, although we actually are taught everything we know, we just are not always aware of the teaching process (informal, experiential learning). Perhaps the author meant she didn't pick up on things easily, that everything had to be actually explained to her. Carrie B's definitions of stupid are instructive here, because one of them is "inattentive", which is probably the case with Catherine.