International Graduate Student Interview: Cross-Cultural Adaptation (China)

I’d like to thank my student Sarah for her excellent final project: International Student Interview.  I would also like to thank Lai Wei 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 China.  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 Lai Wei’s cross-cultural adaptation and transitional challenges are shared among international students.  The following key points are from the video:

• Cross-Cultural Challenges: Culture differences & the language terms and phrases.
• She copes with challenges by asking lots of questions about the culture, working hard, and by practicing English with roommates, friends, and student colleagues.
• She likes the U.S. culture, friendly people, food, education system, technology, & shopping.
• She recommends that international students know the language, be open-minded before you arrive with flexible expectations of what students will experience.
• It has been a challenge not having family living in the U.S. but she did have friends from China studying in the U.S.
• She uses Q.Q. (like Skype) and email helps to connect her to friends and family back home.  (Time difference is difficult).
• Study Abroad Rewards:  New language skills, professional development, access to good education systems, cultural awareness.

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.