Learning Journal Entry #12

[Nicolas Dacey]

I enjoyed learning about past international students' experiences at U of R academically and socially. A lot of what they talked about is still around today. One of my close friends was an international orientation adviser this year, and through her I have gotten to hang out with a lot of students studying abroad here. They continue to struggle in the same ways students did in 2004. For instance, many of them have a hard time in the classroom writing papers in the style the teacher demands. They also still think that American students have no idea what the rest of the world is like. They almost all believe that we are full of ourselves and our country. I enjoyed one conversation with a student from Australia who was quizzing me on the populations of random countries. Even though I have never studied this type of thing, I was able to closely estimate each country he asked. He was astounded by my ability to do so. He claimed that anyone else he would ask had no idea how many people were in other countries, and some would make outrageous guesses that were not even close. I was happy to be able to prove his theory wrong about American students, but for the large majority of us he is correct.

I was glad to hear from the video that a lot of international students can build a strong relationship with their teachers. I know that most of them have a difficult time connecting with American students, so it is good to hear that they are connecting with someone from here. I don't like the fact that international students flock together, but it makes sense. They are going to relate more to each other than they will with me. I cannot join one of them in a conversation about how tough it is dealing with jetlag or how strange someone's expression about how they are feeling is because I don't notice this stuff like they do.

Not everything is bad though. I see a lot of cross-cultural relationships on campus that help build character in both parties. I myself enjoy doing so as well because I know how important it is to understand other cultures.