I’d like to thank my student Elizabeth for her excellent final project: International Interview. I would also like to thank Sarah from Australia for sharing her story with us. Because of their hard work, we have access to the cross-cultural experiences of an international traveler from Australia. I hope that this helps others coming to America as well as educators in America better prepare for study abroad’s challenges and rewards.
Many of Sarah’s cross-cultural adaptation and transitional challenges are shared among international travelers. The following key points are from the video:
- Cross-Cultural Challenges: Driving transportation rules & the language/slang terms and phrases.
- She coped with challenges by asking lots of questions and by getting involved with supportive friends, work colleagues, and groups.
- She likes the U.S. culture, friendly people, patriotism, food, & shopping.
- Sarah recommends that international students be open-minded and try not to have expectations before traveling to the U.S. (be ready to try new things)
- It has been a challenge not having family or friends living in the U.S. but Skype and email help to connect to them back home. (Time difference is difficult).
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, London, & Netherlands. 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.
Tara Madden-Dent, Ph.D. 