I think it would be important to note that steemit is about much more than the money side. There is the social side as well. Look at the new feed, and see how many countries have standing here. I have found people to follow all over the world. Most of them seem to be real people, have real problems, and want to be a solution to Global problems and not be a part of the problem.
Unlike most social media where the number of friends you have the number of thumbs up you have dictate if someone will want to be your fake friend, on steemit, it does not seem to be that way. I have had people with amazingly high reputation 65-75 range actually take the time to make comments on some of my inane comments,(and nice ones at that).
I have met so many amazing people on here through comments,(not in real life,who can afford to go to Nigeria,(@greenrun), or Kazakhstan,(@neonartist), not me), and through their artwork that I am really enjoying the social aspect of steemit.
You have at least 3 weeks to see, learn, and enjoy steemit before the talk, I think you will find a lot of people here to help you discover steemit , and all it's Global potential.