International Student Interview: Cross-Cultural Adaptation (Netherlands)

I’d like to thank my student Danielle for her excellent final project: International Student Interview.  I would also like to thank Emma for sharing her story with us.  Because of their hard work, we have access to the cross-cultural experiences of a UNR international student from Netherlands.  I hope that this helps students coming to America as well as educators in America better prepare for study abroad’s challenges and rewards.

Many of Emma’s cross-cultural adaptation and transitional challenges are shared among international students.  The following key points are from the video:

• Cross-Cultural Challenges: Academic differences, legal challenges, language, & culture shock.
• She coped with challenges with support from her teammates, her coach, and her American boyfriend.  Her class work improved by practicing speaking and writing with friends and her boyfriend.  They would edit and proofread papers.
• She likes the U.S. culture, sunny weather, friendly people, and convenience for travel.
• Emma recommends that international students pick a U.S. city that will make you happy (big city verse small town), go to the U.S. alone (make American friends and get involved with the new culture).
• It has been a challenge not having family or friends living in the U.S. but email and social media helps connect to them back home.

To provide more stories about study abroad in America, I will post a new international student interview from a different country each week for the few weeks. Check out previous interviews students from Beijing, China, Vietnam, Bangkok, Thailand, the Congo, Japan, Mexico, and London.  Hope you find this helpful and please comment if you do.  Thanks.

Also, HLSL Institute is a helpful resource for international students, travelers, expatriates and expatriate families coming to the U.S.    Check it out if you want help with cultural transition, language, transportation, and acculturation development.