Dear International Friends,
You may be understandably nervous about attending university in a new country and living in a new culture, thus, I am using this welcome opportunity to introduce you to campus life and social norms. You may have heard about the reputation of Americans as friendly people and there is reason for that. America is a very diverse country where people from all over the world come and even settle down, thus, Americans have come to appreciate cultural diversity and it is no different at college campuses around the world. Due to their experiences, Americans are often very understanding of the problems faced by international students and do everything to make them feel comfortable. In social settings, Americans take the initiative and even encourage others to introduce themselves to people they may have never met before.
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Americans are also very social and form friendships on the basis of both similarities and differences. Americans value diversity of opinions and ideas and regard freedom of speech as one of the defining aspects of their culture. Americans also tend to be individualistic and celebrate individual differences, thus, there is little social pressure on international students to conform. In addition, most international students are not alone but have several peers who have come from other parts of the world which also makes it easier for them to settle down.
Campus life in America is a mix of both academics and co-curricular activities. One can find all kinds of organizations on campus and all memberships are voluntary though some may have certain criteria. Americans believe in giving back to the community, thus, there is no lack of volunteer opportunities. Campus organizations are also a great way of meeting like-minded people and forming new friendships. College professors tend to have informal relationships with students and it is ok to call instructors by honorific and first name. Students can also schedule appointments with instructors outside class times if they may have a question or need help.
If you ever have any questions, feel free to ask me or international student office. They are more than glad to answer your questions. In addition, both Americans and other international students are always a great source of guidance.
