Differences amongst international and American students are stark

by Erumi Honda for The Concordiensis

There is an obvious division between international students who attend Union, and American students who come here from around the country. It is not just the language difference, but the cultural and social aspects of college students' lives, that make this rift visible.

Union currently has 73 international undergraduate students from as many as 24 different countries. 26 out of 73 are exchange students, or Teaching Assistants, who stay at Union for anywhere from a term to two years. The rest of 47 students study at Union for four years just as regular American students do.

With 73 international students, there comes 73 different college experiences. Each person has a different personality; some enjoy communicating with others while some are more reluctant to do so. Each person has different social and cultural backgrounds, which makes it easier or more challenging to interact with people of different cultures. Each person also has different objectives while they are at Union.

Interviews for this article also showed that short-term international students tend to have very different perspectives and experiences than the four-year international students.

In terms of the relationship between regular American and four-year international students, these internationals seem to be better adjusted to the student community. A four year international student said, "I am invited to parties and I have just as many friends as a normal American student [does]." Also, another such international student said, "I cannot speak for everyone's experience; but according to mine, I think [American and international students] integrate pretty well."

The situation is different when it comes to the relationship between regular American and short-term international students. While this issue cannot be generalized, almost all short-term internationals from last year who cooperated in the interview stated the relationship could be better improved.

On one hand, many pointed out the communality they share, which can lead one to interact more with other international students who are in the same boat.

Martin Svitek, an exchange student from the Czech Republic who studied at Union for three terms last year, said, "International student usually stick together because they feel they are on the same track. They come to Union, they are foreigners, they don't know anyone and they have a chance to meet each other during an orientation week, so it's much easier to make friends among internationals."

Sebastian Echeverria, a student from Chile, studied at Union last year as a Teaching Assistant student. "The [internationals] were great friends. We were all far away from home and we were in the same place. It is kind of obvious that we kept each other company," he said.

In relation to the familiarity that international students share, some pointed out the fact that they do not speak English as a first language as a main communality among them. "Maybe the first months that I was at Union, I didn't feel much integrated because I didn't speak English well, and it was kind of difficult to speak with the American students," a short-term international student stated.

On the other hand, some expressed difficulties in interacting with American students, reflecting more on the way American students treated them.

"It's harder to make friends among Americans," said Svitek, "I must say, it was really weird to me, when I was talking to someone for an hour on a party and then every time I met him after, he just said 'Hi' or didn't say anything. So I had to make more effort to make real friends among Americans. But later on, I got used to it and found some good ones."

Another short-term international student from last year said, "American students focus first on getting in contact with students who study with them for four years and not [ones who are here for] only one to three terms."

Professor William Thomas, Director of International programs, said, "Basically, I don't think [exchange and American students] are as integrated as they could be. Many American students are not particularly interested in meeting internationals. Internationals tend to bunch together for comfort, just as Union students do on a term abroad."

Union offers support systems for international students, including weekly meetings, Host Family programs, workshops, trips to larger cities once or twice a year, and annual International Festivals.

Senior Andrew J. Newell was a committee member of the festival and actively worked toward the success of the event. "I think that many times the wider American campus is insulated not only from the international students but also from their differing cultures and all the beliefs, values, traditions, world views, etc…that come with those cultures. I thought that the International Festival might provide a good opportunity to bridge that gap and facilitate an environment for learning and understanding across cultures."

Minerva Mentor programs are also involved in activities to assist international students. One of the Mentors, who participated in the welcoming activities for international students, said, "Over the summer I studied in three foreign countries as part of my term abroad. I found it much easier to transition into the countries in which we had students to greet us and answer our questions, which was not always the case."

Likewise, while there are many supports available for international students, there are some problems that need to be solved.

Shelly Shinebarger, Director of Student Support Services, provides support both for students with disabilities and international students. She said that Union has no full time staff who focus solely either on international students or on challenged students, although most other schools have at least one such employee.

Also, for these supports and events to be successful, more initiation from students is essential. Martin Dousek, a last year exchange student from the Czech Republic, pointed out that "Union tries to provide all possible [ways] to make international students' stay a pleasant one. That is at the official level, though. It would be nice to see Union students - whether American or international - exert effort towards promoting international diversity at the school."

There are, however, those individuals who exert effort toward building better relationships.

French professor Michelle Chilcoat, said "I work with American students of all kinds, as well as lots of international students, who do want to reach beyond their comfort zones, are excited by the prospects of meeting new and different people, and who feel that this knowledge will somehow allow them to contribute to life in a world that can be better than it is."

Senior Ben Foster plans to organize events that feature international programs an international cultures. He stated, "Most Union students are reticent of accepting new and temporary (as they see it) friends, especially as most Union students are not familiar with operating in a culturally diverse environment." He continued, "Union students and internationals need more opportunities to mix and learn about their various cultures. If we make our diversity more visible, it will be a step in the direction of larger integration."

Ultimately, it is the attitudes of individual students, both internationals and Americans, that determine the nature of their relationships. "I think the indifference and fear against the 'other' [which both some American and international students have] are the problems," said one exchange student. This goes to show that both can learn from each other, if they are willing to interact with people of various cultures.