2008 Woodie Awards
International expectations
Studetnt's first experiences at Lakeland College
Pratikshya Bhandari
Issue date: 10/4/07 Section: Features
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It is not easy to leave home, family and friends; nor is it easy to hop on a plane and travel around the world and twenty hours later, land in an unknown destination where a stranger is waiting to take you to the place that will be your home for a while. Sound scary? That is how the first days in Lakeland began for almost all the international students.
International students do not have the privilege of visiting the college beforehand. It is not because the school does not allow it. It just does not seem sensible to spend an estimated $2000 for airline tickets for a visit. Only seeing pictures from the internet, they came to Lakeland, not knowing what was in store for them. Four international students share their firsthand experiences with us.
Janeth Diaz, 25 came all the way from Peru in hope of improving her English and getting a US degree. A lawyer by profession in her country, Janeth was not expecting a large number of international students, here at Lakeland. She had thought that it would be easy for her to study here having attended college in Peru, but soon after the classes began, she found out that she would have to work really hard to catch up with the rest of the class.
Grace Akinyi Jairo, 19, from Kenya said, "Four years in Lakeland College is going to be a life changing experience. I am going to learn about new cultures, as there are so many international students. It is a beginning of better things ahead." She believes that a degree from the United States will open doors to an ocean of opportunities. Grace was expecting a bigger college campus but feels that she likes it better this way because she can walk to all her classes within a few minutes.
"I sure did not expect to have two roommates," said Swe Swe Htay, 24, laughing. She found the housing shortage at Lakeland disappointing. Like Grace, she was expecting a bigger campus but is happy that Lakeland is small because she sees her professors all the time and is getting to know them better.
"It is boring sometimes because I don't have a car and even if I did have one, there aren't many places to go around here," said Hye-Jin Kim, 27. Having lived in Seoul, South Korea, her whole life, she finds Wisconsin less than exciting.
There are 59 new international students representing 12 countries who became a part of the Lakeland community this fall. We knew that adjusting here and getting to know people would be difficult, but surprisingly, it has not been as strenuous as anticipated.
Most people have been accepting and their smiles make us feel wanted. No one said that this journey would be easy, but with each passing day, it is getting better. In no time, Lakeland will begin to feel like a home away from home.
International students do not have the privilege of visiting the college beforehand. It is not because the school does not allow it. It just does not seem sensible to spend an estimated $2000 for airline tickets for a visit. Only seeing pictures from the internet, they came to Lakeland, not knowing what was in store for them. Four international students share their firsthand experiences with us.
Janeth Diaz, 25 came all the way from Peru in hope of improving her English and getting a US degree. A lawyer by profession in her country, Janeth was not expecting a large number of international students, here at Lakeland. She had thought that it would be easy for her to study here having attended college in Peru, but soon after the classes began, she found out that she would have to work really hard to catch up with the rest of the class.
Grace Akinyi Jairo, 19, from Kenya said, "Four years in Lakeland College is going to be a life changing experience. I am going to learn about new cultures, as there are so many international students. It is a beginning of better things ahead." She believes that a degree from the United States will open doors to an ocean of opportunities. Grace was expecting a bigger college campus but feels that she likes it better this way because she can walk to all her classes within a few minutes.
"I sure did not expect to have two roommates," said Swe Swe Htay, 24, laughing. She found the housing shortage at Lakeland disappointing. Like Grace, she was expecting a bigger campus but is happy that Lakeland is small because she sees her professors all the time and is getting to know them better.
"It is boring sometimes because I don't have a car and even if I did have one, there aren't many places to go around here," said Hye-Jin Kim, 27. Having lived in Seoul, South Korea, her whole life, she finds Wisconsin less than exciting.
There are 59 new international students representing 12 countries who became a part of the Lakeland community this fall. We knew that adjusting here and getting to know people would be difficult, but surprisingly, it has not been as strenuous as anticipated.
Most people have been accepting and their smiles make us feel wanted. No one said that this journey would be easy, but with each passing day, it is getting better. In no time, Lakeland will begin to feel like a home away from home.
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