To celebrate International Education Week, several international students shared their perspectives on what it’s like to be an international student in the United States. See what Harry from England, Jaime from Spain, Joy from Puerto Rico and Rory from Ireland had to say about their experiences so far!
Harry Jackson
From: Ellesmere Port, England
Freshman at SMWC
Major: Sport Management
What is an American word or expression that has caught your attention?
That’s a good question. I would say that Americans refer to the sport as “soccer,” and in my culture, we say “football.”
What is your favorite American fast-food chain or restaurant?
Chipotle
How similar or different is SMWC to your home?
I would say that here, things are quiet. Back home, everywhere is crowded and noisy. Also, here you really need a car to travel. Back home, we have other means of transportation.
Share some places you have visited so far and places you would like to visit.
I have been to New York City. I really liked it. I would like to visit Florida.
How different is the weather here compared to your home?
It is warmer here; 70 degrees feels way too hot. But I know it will also get colder here. Also, the weather here is just wet (humid).
What is your favorite place on campus?
The soccer fields.
What has your favorite American sports event been so far?
I would say college sports in general. I think the atmosphere is quite intense. If I had to pick one, I would say college basketball.
How similar or different are the classes here compared to home?
I don’t know about college class differences since I’m a freshman, but one difference I’ve noticed has been the freedom and flexibility in schedules.
How has your experience with American people been so far?
So far, everyone has been very welcoming and very friendly.
How different is the food in America compared to England?
I feel like the food is different in general, but one thing I noticed is that the portions here are much bigger than at home.
List an item or items that you brought to SMWC to make you feel like you’re at home.
I brought my England flag and a couple of pictures.
Jaime Gayol
From: Oviedo, Spain
Freshman at SMWC
Major: Sport Management
What is an American word or expression that has caught your attention?
A difference that I noticed is that people here say soccer instead of football. When I was studying English, I was taught that I should say football when referring to soccer.
What is your favorite American fast-food chain or restaurant?
Texas Roadhouse
How different is the weather here compared to your home?
The weather is quite similar. Maybe it does not get as cold back at home.
What is your favorite place on campus?
The soccer fields.
How different is the food in America compared to Spain?
I would say that the food in Spain is healthier. We don’t have that many fast-food places or fried food.
List an item or items that you brought to SMWC to make you feel like you’re at home.
I brought some family pictures and the Spanish flag.
What is something you would bring from your country/city to SMWC? And from SMWC to Spain?
I would like to have the beach as close as I have it back at home. And from SMWC, I would like to take all the friendships and different cultures.
Joynelis (Joy) Caminero Santiago
From: Caguas, Puerto Rico
Junior at SMWC
Major: Music Therapy
What is your favorite American fast-food chain or restaurant?
Culvers. I love the ice cream there!
What is it like to be an international student at SMWC?
It’s definitely very exciting. My first year, I had all kinds of emotions (excitement, nerves, fear), especially because it pushed me to be outside my comfort zone. At The Woods, throughout my experience, I’ve always had a welcoming/warm feeling being here and I’ve always had moments that have continued to reassure me that I have and continue to grow and share my culture.
Are there any major differences you’ve noticed when comparing America to Puerto Rico?
When it comes to meals, one thing I noticed is that in Puerto Rico, when you see someone, even if you don’t know them, eating, we say “Buen provecho!” which can be translated or taken as “Enjoy your food!”, but in America, it’s not common to say that unless you’re a server.
Is there a difference in the weather in America compared to Puerto Rico?
It’s very interesting. Before coming to America, I never had to think about changing my wardrobe. I never had that shock of, “Oh, it’s winter!” In Puerto Rico, we wear summer clothes all the time. The weather in Puerto Rico is very consistent, whereas here, I ask “Siri” every day what the weather is going to be.
Share some places you have visited so far and places you would like to visit.
I love that while I’ve been here, I’ve been able to travel freely. I love that here you can take spontaneous trips by car. I’ve been to several places, including most recently Tennessee, for the Alternative Fall Break trip.
How does the food differ from America compared to Puerto Rico?
I like how American food is often a combination of foods from other cultures. It seems like America likes to incorporate a variety of foods within its culture. For example, there are Italian, Mexican, people will learn how to make Asian food – there often seems to be a variety.
What is a favorite food or recipe from your culture?
That is a very hard question. You can’t go wrong with the simple dish of rice and beans with chicken. One difference, though, is that in Puerto Rico, we add potatoes and ham to our beans, whereas in America, I’ve noticed that they cook the beans by themselves. Another dish I like is “Tostones,” which is fried plantains.
Rory Gorman
From: Belfast, Ireland
Freshman at SMWC
Major: Business Administration
What is an American word or expression that has caught your attention?
I would say it is “chips.” At home, if you say chips, you will be given fries. If you want to buy American chips, you have to say crisps.
What is your favorite American fast-food chain or restaurant?
Chick-Fil-A
How similar or different is SMWC to home?
Something that is similar to home is the amount of green space that we have at SMWC. Back home, we also have a big amount of green space.
List places you have visited so far and places you would like to visit.
I have been to Florida, New York, Massachusetts and Chicago, Illinois. I would like to visit California.
How different is the weather here compared to Ireland?
Here in Indiana, summer is much hotter, and winter is way colder. It rarely snows where I live.
What is your favorite place on campus?
The Knoerle Center.
How similar or different are the classes in America compared to Ireland?
Very different. Here, there are around 10-20 students per class. Back home, college classes have about 200 students in them.
How has your experience with American people been so far?
It has been very good! I’ve found most Americans friendly and nice to be around.
List something you brought from home to SMWC.
I didn’t bring much, but I do have my flag from Ireland.
What is something you would bring from your country to SMWC?
I would like to have more social areas like we have back home – a place or restaurant to watch soccer games.
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