I found the “Culture Shock” video to be very illuminating in the way that international students and faculty perceive the reaction and transition of international students into the University of Richmond to be. This was a great way to really delve into the minds of the international students especially so that students from various universities around the world could voice their opinion on how their stay at UR was, from beginning to end.
I personally connected this video for a few reasons. First of all, I am the offspring of two immigrants-my mother was born in Mahebourg, Mauritius and my father was born in Bangkok, Thailand. Through my interactions with them, I have seen firsthand how difficult it can be to deal with issues relating to differing cultural customs and practices. Culture shock is not always an easy or simple process. Oftentimes there is a period of feeling lost or confused when one is in a completely new environment without any familiar faces. Some can adapt but some honestly do not cope well with this overall feeling of the foreign and unfamiliar.
Secondly, I am a multi-cultural pre-orientation advisor at UR. Therefore I do not interact with international students specifically but incoming first years who have multi-cultural backgrounds. They may have been born or lived in other countries but have lived in the U.S. for the majority of their lives. The advisors provide guidance for them because they also need help in their transition from high school into university life. Every student has some type of worry when they are starting this new journey into university life. Some have an idea of what to expect but international students can only learn from the media and stereotypes of Americans and the U.S. I have noticed that the international students at UR can be open as well as exclusive. It honestly depends on the students themselves. During my junior year, I made many great, international friends from Brazil, and China who I still keep in contact with. Yet this year I see more international students clumping together and not interacting as much with the UR students from the U.S. This was an interesting and informative video that was engaging. I would like for this video to be expanded upon even more-a sequel should definitely be in the works!
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