Americans do not feel great cultural shock when attending American universities, even when they are traveling to the other side of the country for education. Unfortunately, this is not the case for international students traveling from the many countries around the world. Although not much different from American students, international students coming to the United States for education have much more difficulty with the change in pace, as well as surroundings.
According to Jun-Chih Gisela Lin and Jenny K. Yi in their college student journal, “International students face common as well as their own unique problems. They face the same problems that confront anybody living in a foreign culture, such as racial discrimination, language problems, accommodation difficulties…misunderstandings and loneliness. These conditions can lead to complaints of nervousness…all of which appear to interfere with their studies, friendships and so on.” Being the “new kid on the block” is not the easiest responsibility to behold, especially when arriving to a foreign country for the first time. Changing from being the "new kid on the block" to being a local takes time and patience, which are in short supply because they are also needed in education; however, hope is not lost. Many campuses around the United States offer clubs for people with various ethnic backgrounds. These valuable resources become the stepping-stones for international students’ adjustment to their new surroundings. Everyone in their respective ethnic clubs can take this cultural change together, one step at a time. Eventually, those in the clubs become comfortable in the new environment and are more prone to making American friends. Ultimately, they create everlasting bonds and the transition wasn't so bad after all.
No comments:
Post a Comment