When you walk around the campus, you see different faces. You might sit in the same class with one or two students coming from another country. More and more students from around the world come to MU year by year. They are students from China, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Brazil, Africa and many other places around the world. This university becomes more diverse when students from around the world choose MU, but what does it mean to local students?
As an international student myself, I urge all of you to get to know the students coming from another country. International students came to America to pursue a better education and to learn about U.S. culture. Meanwhile, American students can often learn new things about other cultures from international students.
Just the other day, when I was working at school, I saw a stick-looking snack candy. I did not know it was something edible. I asked my co-worker what it was, and I know now that it was a “Pixy Stix”, which is basically sugar infused with different flavors. It is the little things like this that we international students learn from U.S. culture every day.
At the same time, U.S. students can learn from international students about their cultures and their experiences. For instance, as a student from Hong Kong, China, I have shared a lot of my thoughts and explained to my fellow U.S. students the “Umbrella Revolution” that has been taking place the last few months.
To me, these kinds of knowledge-exchanging relationships create a win-win situation. While the students from another side of the world came here to study and to learn about another culture, local students can also gain knowledge of these other cultures and values. The experiences of other students cannot be taught by textbooks. I urge all local students to talk to both new and old students who came from another country, ask them about things you are curious about, see what is different and what is the same about your cultures. I promise you, learning other cultures from a real person is eye-opening and you will definitely learn a lot.
The first time I came to the States, I was so excited to meet new friends. However, I found that the norm is that Asians hang with Asians. I did not understand this grouping routine. I saw that Asians seemed to do all things together, like studying or eating at the same table. I have to admit that talking and communicating is way easier and more convenient when you are speaking your own language to others. But then I wondered, “What do I get out of my experience in America if I still speak my first language at all times?”
I remember asking one of my American friends, “Why don’t Americans talk to Asian girls?” and his response confused me: “Because you girls look … intimidating.” I was shocked. Just try to talk to us. Be patient, as English is not always our first language. You cannot imagine how it feels to be 8,000 miles from home in such an unfamiliar school setting.
So, please try to talk to your international schoolmates in your classes from now on. You will gain more knowledge, and you might even be astonished by what it is like outside of the U.S.
