Many students would say that college is tough enough with finding a group to fit into and somewhere to eat, reading the many assignments and getting enough sleep. Imagine trying to figure all of this out in a different language that is not your native tongue. This is just one struggle for the 500 international students at Ball State University.
Even just simple aspects of college life such as what is a Bursar or what is Quickpay can be extremely difficult for international students, Po Hu, the China Initiative Coordinator, said.
Jie Cai, a 22-year-old mathematics major from China and a first-time visitor to the U.S., said the hardest part of adjusting to college is "joining [American] friends, communicating in English and the different food," which he said "has too much oil."
Another adjustment many people don't think about is the time change. For Cai, or anyone from his region of the world, there is a 12-hour time difference. "It's not too bad, maybe takes a week to adjust," Cai said with a casual shrug.
Cai, who expects to stay in the U.S. for at least 2 years, is only one of approximately 210 Chinese natives on campus. In fact, some outreach programs for Chinese students are provided in English and Mandarin. Chinese is the fastest growing international group on campus, followed by Korean students with about 100.
When asked about the difficulties of her first week, Angi, a finance major from China, said she could "understand the professors but not the students."
Something as simple as being able to understand others is an everyday challenge for international students.
"What I like most is if you spoke really slowly and I like that," Cai said.
Programs are available to assist international students. International conversation hours are currently being held in the Rinker Center for International Programs from 2:10-3:30 p.m on Tuesdays in the Yuhas Room. This program is designed to help students practice English and work on their study skills.
"The program is designed from a psychological perspective, dealing with culture shocks," Pei-Yi, a staff therapist at the Counseling Center, said. "Getting a cell phone or making friends can be a challenge for these students."
Another program helps to introduce international students to American traditions. An American family "adopts" an international student and takes them out to eat or invites them over to watch a movie.
Another option for international students that involves American students as well is conversation partners. The program pairs international students with American students, so both have an opportunity to learn, Deb Goens, a foreign student adviser and immigration specialist, said.
"The international [student] gets to practice English, the American [student] gets a chance to learn about another country or culture. They both, we hope, will have the chance to get to know each other and maybe form a friendship," Goens said.
This program is simple and encourages more outside involvement, Goens said.
"You can be a part of international activities even if you are not international," she said. "We're trying to get
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