A Survival Guide for International Students at Rhodes College by Anna Korchak

On a camping trip with ROO (Rhodes Outdoor Organization) - Anna is on the far left

Anna Korchak is an experienced traveler from Russia. She is also the Russian TA at Rhodes College and an avid member of ISOW. Her wisdom and advice has helped many international students, international peer advisors, russian students, adults, and little kids alike. She decided to give international students some suggestions about surviving abroad in a liberal arts college.

I just wanted to share my experience of studying abroad. Every international student faces some of the same challenges. Especially if it's her first time studying abroad. Here are some tips of how to survive on Rhodes campus.

Language barrier:
Even if you are the best language student in your group back home and scored 119 on your TOEFL exam, it can still be hard to understand locals. To my frustration, sometimes you aren't understood either! This could happen due to some dialectal differences (most foreigners study standard American or British English), due to the local accent, which you are not used to, or your thick accent, which the locals aren't used to. Whatever it is it's no reason to be upset. Here is what you're going to do:

• make friends with as many locals as you can – lots of foreign students tend to spend time with other foreign students or with their compatriots. It's understandable – at first you feel like no one can understand you better. But remember that you came here to improve your English;
• watch movies and TV series in English – if it's hard at first start with movies you've already seen in your native language; 
• enroll in courses which will help you to develop your speaking/writing skills in English (ex., writing seminars, theater and literature courses);
• attend more lectures and events on campus, take part in discussions, ask questions.

Russian Spring Festival!

Homesickness: 
Of course you'll miss your family and friends – there is no need to fight that. Just don't isolate yourself. Go out with friends, take part in the community events. It'll help you overcome the depression. If you feel really bad talki to a counsellor or to your peer leader. I've seen many international students, who just disappear from classes and than drop out of the college because they felt alone on campus and had no one to talk to.

Prices:
It's not a secret that the wealth level differs from country to country. Sometimes a lot. For example, in my country only a wealthy person can afford a car. Any car. Here it's quite natural for every teenager to drive. Here are some tips on how to live economically in Memphis:

• don't get a 21 meal plan – first of all food on campus is usually not that good, and then it's more fun to eat out sometimes. And of course it's cheaper;
• don't buy things in expensive shops – go online and check the prices before you go shopping (ex, Target is pretty expensive – you can buy most of the household items, clothes in Walmart, TJ Maxx and FamilyDollar much cheaper);
• many restaurants and shops have student discounts – check them out; 
• Many colleges sponsor some trips, festivals, cinema and theater tickets – follow the advertisement on campus;
• some student organizations provide free trips and events (ex, ROO – camping trips around Tennessee, you only pay for gas);
• Amazon.com has a special offer for students – register your edu email and get free shipping for 6 months. It's not a secret that books are cheaper on Amazon than at college bookstore. Usually it's cheaper to buy books than to rent them – in the end of the term you can sell your books to the college bookstore (no matter where you bought them) or to fellow students.

Stress:
When your body is exposed to that much stress (food, time zone and climate change)  it can easily result in weight loss/gain, fatigue or depression. What can help:

• do sports – sports do not only keep you feet physically, but also psychologically. Usually there is a free gym or pool on campus and a variety of PE courses to attend;
• look for healthy food – there are lot's of whole food stores in the US. You can find green sections even in Kroger. Whole foods is more expensive, but it's worth it;
• drink water – dehydration can be the cause of fatigue and headaches;
• mind your regime. 
• And finally, socialize and explore! It's your only semester/year in the US – use it wisely. Even if you plan to come back later, college environment is unique! Engage in different student organizations, travel, try new food, make friends – make your American experience unforgettable!

Spring Break!

This week is spring break so we will not have a post.

Have fun and think about what you will write for our next topic!

What impact has one specific thing that happened to you during your study abroad changed a way you think?

Happy! Dance in Dominican Republic - Angela Izmirian

Beach at Dominican Republic

I love to dance. I have been dancing probably since I was in the fourth grade, but when I went to graduate school, I didn’t have much time to dance because I was spending most of my time either studying or at my internship.



This is Angela!

However, when I went to the Dominican Republic, I was able to reconnect with my love to dance. Every night of my trip, live music would play and professional dancers would encourage us to try our moves. I was able to learn how to dance Salsa, Bachata, and Merengue.

On top of doing something that I loved, I was able to feel like I was getting immersed into the culture and learn more about the people. While dancing, I was able to talk with people from the Dominican Republic and learn about the culture through the natives. I learned about the struggle that people from that country experience, such as the financial and health concerns. Some of the professional dancers were performing in order to help support their family.

I was able to get a perspective that I otherwise would not have gotten if I had not opened myself to experiencing my surroundings.

 I am happy that I experienced the subculture of dancing because I feel like I was able to get a more personal perspective into the country that many tourists do not experience. –Angela Izmirian, Graduate Student/Study Abroad Advisor

10 Things that Surprised Me in the United States. - Anna Korchak



Trip to the botanic garden with other ISOW kids! I'm in pink on the right.

Every country have stereotypes about other countries. But no one of them can be compared to ridiculous stereotypes in Russia about USA. Probably because we are too far away from each other, or may be the decades of Cold War contributed to that. That’s why it’s not surprising I made so many striking discoveries upon my arrival.



1.       Clothes. I was told that if I’ll wear the same T-shirt for 2 days in a row people would think I’m a weirdo. So, I was expecting that probably Americans will appear to be fashion-conscious watch dogs. Not bloody likely. I saw every imaginable sartorial style not only in big cities, but also on our small campus. It’s so exciting, that you can wear whatever you like and no one is going to say: “Look at her! What a hell is she wearing today?”

2.       Water. It’s everywhere. And it’s free! You can buy a colorful water bottle (the variety and quantity of which also surprised me) and take it everywhere with you!

3.       You can eat, drink or put your legs on the chair in class! I was brought up with a deep respect for teachers, which means you can’t move without teacher’s permission in class. Seriously. We even have to ask for permission to go to the bathroom. And here you can even argue with a teacher and it won’t affect your grade.

My best friends in the US!

4.       A guy can be your friend. (I mean friend, not what you thought!) My two best friends here are 18 years old boys and they are the nicest people I ever met in my life! I don’t mean that all men in Russia are rude or macho like. It’s just really rare to have a good guy-friend in Russia if you are a pretty woman)

5.       No American was suspicious about me being a communist spy or hiding a bear in the bag=D

6.       Transport. I live in a pretty small Siberian town in Russia (about 10000 ft) and we have all kinds of public transport, except for subways, which are really cheap and go to nearly every nook in Tomsk. I really couldn’t believe that city the size of Memphis can hardly have public transport! I never felt like having a car in Russia, but here I’d feel isolated without it if only I wouldn’t have so many driving friends)

7.       Outdoor pools. I’ve never seen one in my life. No kidding!

8.       Rain in winter. I think it’s not a secret that it’s snowing in winter in Russia. So, I experienced my first winter rain in Memphis. The next morning it was freezing and all the trees were covered with ice decorations. It was beautiful! 

9.       Friendly people. I was told that Americans smile not because they like you, but because they are used to smile to everyone, which means they are not sincere. It doesn’t mean that Russians never smile. We just never smile to strangers. And we never talk to strangers, apart from asking “Excuse me. What’s the time, please?” And of course that’s not true. I have many friends here. Real friends (I love you, guys!). And, yes, it’s very pleasant when a stranger says: “Hi! I like your shoes!”

10.  At the end of the day, Americans are not so different from Russians: we both like pancakes and complain about politics, we both like travelling but are very patriotic, and both Russians and Americans value family and friends best of all.

 



 

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China - Trey Brooks



Trey on a hiking trial on Wugong Mountain

It was that late semester lull.

In my comprehensive language class we were always applying new language skills to the context of ancient Chinese customs as well as the modern lifestyle. In my writing class we have learned how to rent an apartment, describe historical sites, and sell furniture. In my other classes we were preparing for the all-encompassing HSK test that evaluated foreigners’ Chinese skills. With sometimes more than seven hours of Mandarin instruction a day along with the Sino-centric environment that surrounded us cultural immersion was the least of my worries. 

 It was one teacher, who we called Joanny, who had surprised me with her interest in my culture.

 Immersion in my eyes is not only the absorption of a culture completely different than my own, but also the respectful diffusion of my American culture. Of course I wanted to “do what the Romans do,” but I also wanted to share the connection that accompanies cross-cultural education. Joanny had us prepare a Power Point for every class to work on our presentation skills as a warm up exercise. It got to a point in the semester where we got to fashion a presentation that described our hometowns. Being from Nashville I had a lot of things to figure out, like how to describe a Honky Tonk in Chinese and how to explain how food, music, and Jack Daniels ruled the land. But, the surprise that was in-store for me that would take me back home in a way that the Music City research could not. The presentation ended with a slide or two about the Grand Ole Opry and the Ryman Auditorium. The Ryman Auditorium has been home to some of the greatest performances in Nashville’s history, especially country music. With an honest interest in the culture, Joanny opened a Chinese music website. On this site she would show me the various American music songs that she knew. Her being about the age of my father, the music was more than familiar. Before I knew it we were both singing the chorus to John Denver’s “Country Roads”. 

It was in this moment that I could finally enjoy my two worlds colliding. 

Denver sings, “Country roads, take me home to the place, I belong West Virginia, mountain mama take me home, country roads”. Moments like these taught me that home is where the heart is, and for now it can be found on opposite sides of the world. –Trey Brooks, Jiangxi University of Finance and Economics, Junior (Class 2105), Commerce and Business Chinese Studies Double Major

Norway - Erin Hillis

Erin and Elin with sleds in Norge

I spend my Christmas holidays in Norway, just about every year.  It started in 1998, when my best friend (a Norwegian student who lived in my dorm) invited me home with her for the winter break.  I’d met her family before, so I knew it would be a really neat and fun experience.  But it would be the first time I’d ever missed Christmas with my Mom and brother and it was a tough decision.  Looking back now, I’m glad I decided to leave home that Christmas.

My friend and I met as freshman in college.  We both had adventurous spirits, so we decided to backpack and camp around the southern part of Norway one summer – it was my first time out of the country and it planted in me very profound respect for the “other” and the “different than” which I had never experienced before.  

Over the years, our two families connected through their mutual appreciation that both families were taking care of both daughters, whichever side of the world they were on.  We began alternating Christmas breaks between Memphis and Stavanger.  My friend’s family became my family, and vice versa.  For me, “Going to Norway” became “Going home to Norway” and felt almost the same as “Going home to Memphis.”

Those years of relationships has made Norway a part of my identity

Our families have supported each other now for almost 20 years through weddings, losses, new babies, milestone birthdays, and lots of vacations together.  Those years and relationships have made Norway an inseparable part of my identity.  I’m profoundly the better for the Norway in my heart.