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Struggles Only International Students Studying in the US Will Understand

It's hard out here for a foreigner

Urechi Oguguo

Nov 29, 2016

University of Texas at San Antonio

Struggles Only International Students Studying in the US Will Understand

Teenee

So you complete high school in your home country, get on a plane and venture solo to the United States to begin the next chapter of your educational career; leaving your family and friends behind. You're hopeful for your ever-so-bright future and enthusiastic about the new life you're about to create for yourself.

Now you're in the States, doing great in school and seizing big opportunities, but little did you know that there be new kinds of struggles ahead of you.

Here are some inevitable struggles that international students studying in the U.S. know too well...

1. Trying to find Scholarships/ Grants for Non-Residents

Is that even a thing?

2. Spelling certain words differently

COLOUR me confused!

3. Converting from your beloved METRIC SYSTEM

Oh, America!

Is life not complicated enough?

4. Getting used to the different holidays

Um ok. But I mean, if it means I get to sleep in today then, By all means!

5. Being all alone during the holidays

... and trying to make the best of it

6. Perfecting the art of smuggling your favorite foods through customs

You gotta do what you gotta do

7. When someone tries to pronounce your name

"What did you just call me?!"

8. Responding to the usual, "How is your English so good? You're foreign"

For your information, those of us that actually grew up speaking the language, it is more insulting that it is a compliment so please, Move along now before I break something.

9. Addressing stereotypes

I kid you not! I've had to reassure some guy that children in Nigeria do not, in fact, ride to school on the back of giraffes and we do not have monkeys on the street that steal our lunches. I've heard even more ridiculous stories from fellow international students, you wouldn't believe!

10. Hearing people talk about how far away they live from home, when they live just 4 hours away

Interesting...

11. Not talking to your parents for days because of time difference

12. No Work-Study, No off-campus employment, Sorry!

What can I say... It's hard out there for an international student

13. Adopting a new family every Thanksgiving

Any takers?!

14. Being able to recognize a fellow country-mate just at a glance

Ayy, I see you!

At the end of the day, we know we can overcome whatever it is that comes our way. We've had a lot of practice. No borders, physical or mental, can stand in the way of our goals. We're fighters like that!

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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.

Student Life

Syllabus Week As Told By Kourtney Kardashian

Feeling Lost During Syllabus Week? You're Not Alone!

University of Iowa

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Winter break is over, we're all back at our respective colleges, and the first week of classes is underway. This is a little bit how that week tends to go.

The professor starts to go over something more than the syllabus

Kuwtk Keeping Up With The Kardashians GIFfrom Kuwtk GIFs

You get homework assigned on the first day of class

There are multiple group projects on the syllabus

Kardashian GIFfrom Kardashian GIFs

You learn attendance is mandatory and will be taken every class

Professor starts chatting about their personal life and what inspired them to teach this class

Participation is mandatory and you have to play "icebreaker games"

Everybody is going out because its 'syllabus week' but you're laying in bed watching Grey's Anatomy

Looking outside anytime past 8 PM every night of this week

Nobody actually has any idea what's happening this entire week

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Syllabus week is over and you realize you actually have to try now...or not

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Now it's time to get back into the REAL swing of things. Second semester is really here and we all have to deal with it.

syllabus week

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Whether you specialized in ringing people up or preparing the food, if you worked at Panera Bread it holds a special place in your heart. Here are some signs that you worked at Panera in high school.

1. You own so many pairs of khaki pants you don’t even know what to do with them

Definitely the worst part about working at Panera was the uniform and having someone cute come in. Please don’t look at me in my hat.

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Making the world safer through language.

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7 Ways to Make Your Language More Transgender and Nonbinary Inclusive

With more people becoming aware of transgender and non-binary people, there have been a lot of questions circulating online and elsewhere about how to be more inclusive. Language is very important in making a space safer for trans and non-binary individuals. With language, there is an established and built-in measure of whether a place could be safe or unsafe. If the wrong language is used, the place is unsafe and shows a lack of education on trans and non-binary issues. With the right language and education, there can be more safe spaces for trans and non-binary people to exist without feeling the need to hide their identities or feel threatened for merely existing.

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Recommended for you

Struggles Only International Students Studying in the US Will Understand

It's hard out here for a foreigner

1. Trying to find Scholarships/ Grants for Non-Residents

2. Spelling certain words differently

3. Converting from your beloved METRIC SYSTEM

4. Getting used to the different holidays

5. Being all alone during the holidays

6. Perfecting the art of smuggling your favorite foods through customs

7. When someone tries to pronounce your name

8. Responding to the usual, "How is your English so good? You're foreign"

9. Addressing stereotypes

10. Hearing people talk about how far away they live from home, when they live just 4 hours away

11. Not talking to your parents for days because of time difference

12. No Work-Study, No off-campus employment, Sorry!

13. Adopting a new family every Thanksgiving

14. Being able to recognize a fellow country-mate just at a glance

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It's happening.

Excitement

Relief

Excitement (again)

Sadness

Feeling Lost During Syllabus Week? You're Not Alone!

The professor starts to go over something more than the syllabus

You get homework assigned on the first day of class

There are multiple group projects on the syllabus

You learn attendance is mandatory and will be taken every class

Professor starts chatting about their personal life and what inspired them to teach this class

Participation is mandatory and you have to play "icebreaker games"

Everybody is going out because its 'syllabus week' but you're laying in bed watching Grey's Anatomy

Looking outside anytime past 8 PM every night of this week

Nobody actually has any idea what's happening this entire week

Syllabus week is over and you realize you actually have to try now...or not

Chips, apple or bread?

1. You own so many pairs of khaki pants you don’t even know what to do with them

2. Chips, apple or bread is probably your most repeated phrase

3. Taking bakery items with you out to parties was a must

4. Taking bakery items home to your parents was also a must (if you wanted to live)

5. Your friends expected you to give them free stuff

6. Being put on dishes made you question humanity

7. You saw everyone and their mother (especially their mothers)

8. Working the opening shift was actually the worst thing to ever happen to you

9. Being able to predict what people would order

10. Making coffee was your least favorite thing to do

11.Being put on the dining room was the absolute WORST

12. Secretly putting in your Panera card number when other people didn’t have them or want them.

13. You would still come in on days you weren’t working to take advantage of your discount

It's Been a Long Winter Break

Making the world safer through language.

1. Use singular they for people whose pronouns you don't know, people who use those pronouns, and stop using him/her.

2. Stop using the words "opposite sex" or "both sexes" or "opposite gender" or "both genders".

3. Ask people's pronouns when you meet them.

4. Use the word cisgender.

5. Stop saying "born a boy/girl" about a transgender or non-binary person.

6. Stop using the term 'preferred pronouns'.

7. Stop using a transgender or non-binary person's dead name.

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