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A New Life in a New Place
You've arrived at your exciting new home (at least for the duration of your academic program), and are still a little jittery from all the changes to your environment and social practices. What are your priorities, and how do you adapt to the American academic environment? When answering that question, keep in mind that many other international students have been in your shoes, and have learnt a thing or two about the system to make your own experience easier.
Swamped On Arrival
Here is just a sample of what you may be
thinking about (and probably all at once, to
boot):
- Contacting your family and friends back home to keep them posted on your new adventure
- Finding your way around campus and the surrounding community
- Meeting new people on campus and beyond
- Choosing and customizing your academic program
- Running errands and doing paperwork to fulfill administrative requirements
Much of the
above list can be checked off by determining the where and how of
your new college or university's Orientation Program. Many
institutions have Host Family Programs where you are paired up with
an American family to ease your transition and make you feel
welcome. At the very least there is an International Student
Association that will be able to refer you to a support network,
counselling services, etc.
Avoid the Trap of Culture Shock
The outcome of your experience depends
heavily on your own effort to understand your new surroundings. The
following diagram is based on Duane Elmer's Cross-Cultural
Connections (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2002). The
clash between cultural differences and choices in approach can
cause frustration, confusion, tension, and embarrassment. Which of
the two paths will you pick, keeping in mind the support resources
available at your university and through an International Student
Association?
To help you consider the many factors affecting your enjoyment of the academic experience as an international student around the world, feel free to download the reference material we have provided.
Ask
The Experts
To help you consider the many factors affecting your enjoyment of the academic experience as an international student around the world, feel free to download the reference material we have provided.
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hcraig said – Fri, 26 Jun 2009 09:16:45 -0000 ( Flag Edit Link )
Whoops – looks like your link got cut off. Try this one