2008 Woodie Awards
International students face challenging adjustments
DeAnna Goering
Issue date: 8/23/07 Section: Campus Life
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Entering a foreign country for the first time can be frightening for any American. But the same is true for international students who come to the United States to attend Pittsburg State University.
Fay Liu, graduate student in chemistry, says the first week she and her fellow international students were in the country, they went to lunch and dinner together to help them get to know one another and establish friendships.
Liu says before she left her home country of China, she was scared to come to the United States. Now Liu says she feels things are going well. Although international student paperwork can be challenging, she says that most Americans are helpful, perhaps because they know international students are so far away from home.
"America is great," Liu said. "American people are very nice. The people are great."
Still, Melinda Velasquez, who works in the International Affairs Office, says newcomers face many challenges, and international students are often overwhelmed. Velasquez says getting to and around Pittsburg is difficult because the university is relatively remote, and Pittsburg does not have the kinds of public transportation systems these students are familiar with.
Velasquez says her office is usually inundated at the beginning of each semester, trying to situate each international student on campus. But American students can help international students assimilate, too.
"Just be kind," Velasquez said. "If you see an international student wandering around looking lost, reach out and help."
Mary Lunday, senior public relations director for the International Office, says the best thing American students can do is seek out their fellow students. "International students are regular people who want friends. American students can make friendships that last a lifetime."
Fay Liu, graduate student in chemistry, says the first week she and her fellow international students were in the country, they went to lunch and dinner together to help them get to know one another and establish friendships.
Liu says before she left her home country of China, she was scared to come to the United States. Now Liu says she feels things are going well. Although international student paperwork can be challenging, she says that most Americans are helpful, perhaps because they know international students are so far away from home.
"America is great," Liu said. "American people are very nice. The people are great."
Still, Melinda Velasquez, who works in the International Affairs Office, says newcomers face many challenges, and international students are often overwhelmed. Velasquez says getting to and around Pittsburg is difficult because the university is relatively remote, and Pittsburg does not have the kinds of public transportation systems these students are familiar with.
Velasquez says her office is usually inundated at the beginning of each semester, trying to situate each international student on campus. But American students can help international students assimilate, too.
"Just be kind," Velasquez said. "If you see an international student wandering around looking lost, reach out and help."
Mary Lunday, senior public relations director for the International Office, says the best thing American students can do is seek out their fellow students. "International students are regular people who want friends. American students can make friendships that last a lifetime."
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