By C. H. Porter
Troy State University

One of the greatest challenges you will face is the transition from your normal life in your country to your new home at a university in the United States. Of course it doesn't help that you will arrive in the United States after a long flight, tired and worried. Then you will immediately have to find housing, decide upon your class schedule, complete registration and begin classes. Still you know, like hundreds of thousands before you, that you can do it. Most universities in the United States are well prepared to help you with sympathetic, specially trained counselors [called either International or Foreign Student Advisors.] These will be among the first people you meet at your new university. In fact by US law you must meet them and report your US visa status to them.

Normally the first few weeks are something of an emotional roll-a-coaster for most students. You have left your friends, parents and life you have known for many years behind, a source of sorrow. Yet you are excited by your new adventure. For the first weeks these two both come in to play. You arrive at your new college tired and, perhaps, over excited. Then you begin to miss home - your friends, foods, room, and family. You will probably go through a period of depression as homesickness and loneliness set in. With luck that, too, lasts but a short time as the adjustment process enters its third stage - with new friends and new interests. You will begin to relax, laugh at minor mistakes and misunderstandings, which previously would have caused you more anxiety.

One of the biggest adjustment issues is language. No matter where you chose in the US you will find some differences in the spoken language. For example in the South where my university - Troy State University - is located people speak slowly with a characteristic southern accent. We say you-all, which means all of you. It may be especially hard to understand your fellow students, as there is always something of a youth language that is part of the rapidly evolving youth culture. Until last week my son called things he approved of "cool". Now they are "smooth". You will have to catch on to American slang and idioms. This applied not just to the spoken language but also to the non-verbal language.

Then, too, there are the cultural differences. Americans insist on space between people. Normally we do not make any sort of physical contact or pronounced jesters as we speak. I remember last year talking with a woman from Belgium who had arrived in the US at the age of 19. The university she attended - like most quality universities - held a special orientation for new international students. After the session she accepted a ride back to the dormitory from one of the US students who had been participating. Getting out of the car she leaned over to kiss him - a normal practice in Belgium. The US student pulled back in shock. We only kiss close family members and those with whom we have a romantic interest. This is a somewhat humorous example but you will surely find something similar happens to you. If an American invites you to an event be on time. Americans tend to be very punctual. Then, too, there is the problem with the holidays. You just won't be programmed to know where they occur and what they mean.

Part of the reason you want to go to college in the US should be to learn more about the culture and the people of the United States. For that reason you should work hard to avoid going to a school that has a large number of people from your native country. As the Korean cultural Attaché in the US told me, speaking of one US university with a large number of Korean students, the students from Korea who go there "really are not getting the benefit of an education in the United States." They are, de facto, living in Korea, just going to classes in the US

Try to avoid the cultural isolation of sticking with your own group, even though it is initially harder. You will benefit greatly and be better prepared for the future. Quality universities in the US try to avoid international student ghettos by attracting a balanced representation of students from all parts of the world.

Finally, every country has its own health care system, values and practices. Unfortunately when you first will have to confront the US health care system is when you are sick. Just understand that it is different than what you are used to. Do your best to describe your problems, even though this is probably the area where your English language skills might be inadequate.