• Home
  • Staff
  • Privacy Policy
  • News Tips/Press Releases
  • Advertising
Wednesday, February 1, 2023
  • Login
No Result
View All Result
NEWSLETTER
The Times-Delphic
  • News
    • All
    • Administrative News
    • Campus Events
    • Campus Health
    • Caucus Roundup
    • Crime Log
    • In Des Moines
    • Student Politics
    • Student Senate
    • The Ones
    • Top News
    Des Moines Police identify victim in Saturday night Dogtown shooting

    Des Moines Police identify victim in Saturday night Dogtown shooting

    One dead, one injured in Dogtown shooting Saturday night

    One dead, one injured in Dogtown shooting Saturday night

    Former U.S. diplomat draws attention to the Tigray War in Ethiopia during lecture

    Former U.S. diplomat draws attention to the Tigray War in Ethiopia during lecture

    Iranians pushed over the edge after years of repression and corruption

    Iranians pushed over the edge after years of repression and corruption

    Drake proposes wellness fee costs, plans to expand mental health services

    Drake proposes wellness fee costs, plans to expand mental health services

    • Administrative News
    • The Ones
    • Campus Events
    • Campus Health
    • Crime Log
    • In Des Moines
    • Student Senate
    • Senate Elections
  • Features
    • All
    • Clubs
    • Greek Life
    • People
    Letter Signed by Charles Dickens Discovered in Drake Archives 

    Letter Signed by Charles Dickens Discovered in Drake Archives 

    Students share how they spent their Thanksgiving Break

    Students share how they spent their Thanksgiving Break

    Sigma Phi Epsilon plans annual “Miracle on 34th Street” event

    Sigma Phi Epsilon plans annual “Miracle on 34th Street” event

    A boring Black Friday: How Black Friday has changed over the years

    A boring Black Friday: How Black Friday has changed over the years

    Drake Theatre People presents “Rabbit Hole”

    Drake Theatre People presents “Rabbit Hole”

    • Clubs
    • People
    • Greek Life
  • Commentary
    • All
    • Black Voices Column
    • Horoscope
    • Humans of Drake
    • Letter from the Editor
    • Letter to the Editor
    • Opinion
    “Ticket to Paradise” is your ticket to watching gorgeous people

    “Ticket to Paradise” is your ticket to watching gorgeous people

    2020 redux: can’t come to the classroom? Still need Zoom

    2020 redux: can’t come to the classroom? Still need Zoom

    Blues, booze and nothing to do: how to bloom during holiday gloom

    Blues, booze and nothing to do: how to bloom during holiday gloom

    Ho, ho, hope you don’t get coal: gift ideas for X-Mas

    Ho, ho, hope you don’t get coal: gift ideas for X-Mas

    Make Election Day a holiday (we’ll vote on it)

    Make Election Day a holiday (we’ll vote on it)

    • Opinion
    • Letter from the Editor
  • Sports
    • Basketball
    • Soccer
    • Tennis
    • Football
  • Relays Edition

    Bill that would make Iowa a hands-free driving state stalls in the legislature

    New Casey’s Location on Forest Avenue

    ADA student task force advocates for disability inclusion

    Des Moines lands news USL team and stadium district

    The Great Resignation: What Is It? And Why Is It Happening?

    The Great Resignation: What Is It? And Why Is It Happening?

    State of Sustainability at Drake

    Hip astrology: Relays horoscope

    Dean Kathleen Richardson: Leaving a Legacy for the Drake SJMC

    Painted Street ain’t so sweet when costs are heaped

    • Commentary
    • Coronavirus
    • Elections
    • Features
    • In Des Moines
    • News
    • This week in photos
    • Top News
    • Top Stories
    • Video
    • Security Reports
    • Relays Edition
    • Poll
    • Podcasts
    • Online Exclusives
  • Podcasts
    Drake Weekly Sports Podcast | December 3

    Drake Weekly Sports Podcast | December 3

    Drake Public Safety and the student body

    Drake Public Safety and the student body

    Humans of Drake Podcast

    Bulldog Blitz 1: December 7, 2010

    The Sports Report 2010 7: 11/09/2010

  • News
    • All
    • Administrative News
    • Campus Events
    • Campus Health
    • Caucus Roundup
    • Crime Log
    • In Des Moines
    • Student Politics
    • Student Senate
    • The Ones
    • Top News
    Des Moines Police identify victim in Saturday night Dogtown shooting

    Des Moines Police identify victim in Saturday night Dogtown shooting

    One dead, one injured in Dogtown shooting Saturday night

    One dead, one injured in Dogtown shooting Saturday night

    Former U.S. diplomat draws attention to the Tigray War in Ethiopia during lecture

    Former U.S. diplomat draws attention to the Tigray War in Ethiopia during lecture

    Iranians pushed over the edge after years of repression and corruption

    Iranians pushed over the edge after years of repression and corruption

    Drake proposes wellness fee costs, plans to expand mental health services

    Drake proposes wellness fee costs, plans to expand mental health services

    • Administrative News
    • The Ones
    • Campus Events
    • Campus Health
    • Crime Log
    • In Des Moines
    • Student Senate
    • Senate Elections
  • Features
    • All
    • Clubs
    • Greek Life
    • People
    Letter Signed by Charles Dickens Discovered in Drake Archives 

    Letter Signed by Charles Dickens Discovered in Drake Archives 

    Students share how they spent their Thanksgiving Break

    Students share how they spent their Thanksgiving Break

    Sigma Phi Epsilon plans annual “Miracle on 34th Street” event

    Sigma Phi Epsilon plans annual “Miracle on 34th Street” event

    A boring Black Friday: How Black Friday has changed over the years

    A boring Black Friday: How Black Friday has changed over the years

    Drake Theatre People presents “Rabbit Hole”

    Drake Theatre People presents “Rabbit Hole”

    • Clubs
    • People
    • Greek Life
  • Commentary
    • All
    • Black Voices Column
    • Horoscope
    • Humans of Drake
    • Letter from the Editor
    • Letter to the Editor
    • Opinion
    “Ticket to Paradise” is your ticket to watching gorgeous people

    “Ticket to Paradise” is your ticket to watching gorgeous people

    2020 redux: can’t come to the classroom? Still need Zoom

    2020 redux: can’t come to the classroom? Still need Zoom

    Blues, booze and nothing to do: how to bloom during holiday gloom

    Blues, booze and nothing to do: how to bloom during holiday gloom

    Ho, ho, hope you don’t get coal: gift ideas for X-Mas

    Ho, ho, hope you don’t get coal: gift ideas for X-Mas

    Make Election Day a holiday (we’ll vote on it)

    Make Election Day a holiday (we’ll vote on it)

    • Opinion
    • Letter from the Editor
  • Sports
    • Basketball
    • Soccer
    • Tennis
    • Football
  • Relays Edition

    Bill that would make Iowa a hands-free driving state stalls in the legislature

    New Casey’s Location on Forest Avenue

    ADA student task force advocates for disability inclusion

    Des Moines lands news USL team and stadium district

    The Great Resignation: What Is It? And Why Is It Happening?

    The Great Resignation: What Is It? And Why Is It Happening?

    State of Sustainability at Drake

    Hip astrology: Relays horoscope

    Dean Kathleen Richardson: Leaving a Legacy for the Drake SJMC

    Painted Street ain’t so sweet when costs are heaped

    • Commentary
    • Coronavirus
    • Elections
    • Features
    • In Des Moines
    • News
    • This week in photos
    • Top News
    • Top Stories
    • Video
    • Security Reports
    • Relays Edition
    • Poll
    • Podcasts
    • Online Exclusives
  • Podcasts
    Drake Weekly Sports Podcast | December 3

    Drake Weekly Sports Podcast | December 3

    Drake Public Safety and the student body

    Drake Public Safety and the student body

    Humans of Drake Podcast

    Bulldog Blitz 1: December 7, 2010

    The Sports Report 2010 7: 11/09/2010

No Result
View All Result
The Times-Delphic
No Result
View All Result
Home Features

Life on campus as an international student

byTUMA HAJI
September 1, 2018
in Features, Humans of Drake
0
Life on campus as an international student
0
SHARES
63
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

BY Tuma Haji

Exchange student Sarah Eunice Stephen traveled 25 hours by airplane from her home in Malaysia to attend Drake University. She traveled thousands of miles away from the environment, culture, and society she had grown up in to start a new experience in a foreign country.

Unlike domestic students who can either drive or fly back home within hours or less, international students like Stephen do not have that comfort. Many international students remain on campus during the holidays or breaks.

“I can’t go back anytime I want because it’s so expensive. It’s definitely a struggle being away from my family for a whole year and even harder for the holidays,” she said. “The process was very long. Especially with the time distance, it’s so difficult to get in contact with admissions because by the time they start work, it’s time for me to sleep. Before I could even start my visa, I had to wait almost a month for all my materials to arrive. It’s a waiting game more than anything else.”

While in a new country, adjusting to a different culture can be challenging for some international students.

Stephen said that she assumed she would feel at home as soon as she came onto campus but was surprised to find that she felt “more like a fish out of water” when confronted with cultural barriers such as language.

“The other day, I kept asking where the washroom was- and after a few moments the person realized that I was referring to the restroom. Just minor things like that,” Stephen said.

Stephen views the cultural unfamiliarity and incongruence as both a drawback and a benefit.

“I think the best part is feeling so special! Everyone is so interested in my culture and in my country whereas back home everything felt so regular because I met so many people who were the same as me.”

Japanese international student Sana Hinami also made the transition into American culture at Drake. She wanted to expose herself to a variety of different cultures and felt that America would be the perfect place to study.

Hinami appreciated the International Mentor/Academic Consultants (IMAC) for helping her transition. IMAC is a student organization that pairs international students with upper class student volunteers to help them transition into campus life.  

“The best thing is that IMAC supports us. All of them are really, really nice to us, and they are amazing,” Hinami said. “I really appreciate that they support our life and they make many opportunities to hang out together.”

Drake encourages international students to use IMACs as a resource for their college career.

Everyday actions and slang used can act as cultural barriers. Such things can be learned through observation or guidance from American students. Hinami said that she welcomes friendly suggestions and corrections.

“I don’t know about the culture here, so if I do something weird or rude, I want them to let me know. I really want everyone to know that I want to interact with them.”

Tags: Drake Universityexchange studentsinternational studiesMalaysiaopportunities abroadStudy Abroad

TUMA HAJI

Next Post
BlackkKlansman: The thought provoking must-watch movie of the summer

Drake renovations wow students

  • Des Moines Police identify victim in Saturday night Dogtown shooting
  • One dead, one injured in Dogtown shooting Saturday night
  • The stars must have aligned: “Silent Sky” was quite fine
  • Former U.S. diplomat draws attention to the Tigray War in Ethiopia during lecture

The Times-Delphic

© 2023 JNews - Premium WordPress news & magazine theme by Jegtheme.

Navigate Site

  • About
  • Home
  • Podcasts
  • Privacy Policy
  • Virtual Edition
  • Advertising

Follow Us

No Result
View All Result
  • Politics
  • World
  • Business
  • Science
  • National
  • Entertainment
  • Gaming
  • Movie
  • Music
  • Sports
  • Fashion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Tech
  • Health
  • Food

© 2023 JNews - Premium WordPress news & magazine theme by Jegtheme.

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Create New Account!

Fill the forms bellow to register

All fields are required. Log In

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
Bodybuilder is fighting for his life after taking dirty steroids femara uk trump's "operation warp speed" for mass vaxxing. "big bucks for big pharma" - global research