Jenny ShaoAlthough Washington University provides many programs and resources to aid international students as they acclimate to life in America, the constant deluge of cultural, social and academic pressures which international students face makes fitting in a difficult task.
International students represent about 1,300 members of the University community, slightly more than 300 of which are on the undergraduate level. This number is substantially less than that of some other universities, many of which boast a population of up to 25 percent international students.
“Washington University is a great school, but it is not entirely international-student-friendly,” said freshman Aparna Misra, who went to high school in Indonesia.
Misra explained that many American students do not understand why a foreigner would choose to study in the Midwest, far from major cities.
“People are always asking me ‘Why are you here?'” said Misra.
She feels that the lack of international presence at the University leads to the self-segregation of international students, both because of cultural differences and because American students perceive them as different.
Despite the efforts of the University to bridge the cultural gaps using pre-orientation programs, language barriers remain, making integration difficult.
“The biggest barrier is language. If you cannot understand what someone is saying, then that is a large barrier,” explained senior Mario Martinez, who came to the University from Honduras.
Although the majority of international students come from Asian countries like Korea and China, most face some difficulty adjusting to American culture, regardless of their country of origin.
“For the first six months, it is a constant negotiation between what [traditions] are most important to yourself and what you can compromise on,” said Martinez.
“Sometimes there are cultural issues,” said Kathy Steiner-Lang, director of the Office of International Students and Scholars. “We try to get students involved in different types of activities so they can overcome that.”
Additionally, the Office of International Students runs a number of programs, such as the Host Family Program and the Speak English with Us program. These programs strive to integrate internationals into the St. Louis community by connecting them with local families.
The Host Family program brings together students and their host families on a one-on-one basis, once a month for meetings that can range from dinner to a trip to the theater. The Speak English with Us program allow students to practice their English skills once a week for an hour in an informal setting.
“These students may not have anyone nearby and we hope that through these programs they will be able to make connections in the community,” said Luisette Behmer, the coordinator of the Host Family Program.
“You can’t recreate your family network, but you surround yourself with friends,” said Martinez. “They become your support network.”
Many students take advantage of these programs, although participation is by application only because there is a limited number of students that can be accommodated.
“There are students who would benefit from this kind of program, but we don’t have enough volunteers,” said April Collins, a member of the Office of International Students.
At the same time, because of the difficult journeys that many international students take to get to the University, they often feel prepared for the academic aspects of college life.
“If we made it this far, it is because we are prepared,” said Martinez.
Despite the challenges life as an international student presents, it is possible for international students to become full members of the University community with the help of all the resources provided to them.
“There has to be an effort by the international students to adapt,” said Misra.