Chelcie Semester @ Sea

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sue Her blog capturing 11 countries in 105 days

“Meet an angel” helping international students

ISV Spotlight Award: The Dynamic Duo

“I Am Unstoppable” Living on Campus made me a leader

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Welcome to International Student Voice Magazine! We hope you enjoy this issue. You can read all our other issues by visiting www.isvmag.com.

International Student Voice is a bi-monthly magazine covering the stories of international students studying in the United States and Canada, as well as American and Canadian students studying abroad. It’s simple: students write their own stories and that’s exactly what we publish. Students share their voice with us and we share their voice with the world.

Our team is very passionate about international education. We are comprised of current and former international students, journalists, and university administrators passionate about the needs of today’s students. Just like many international students, there are so many things you wish you knew before you started your studies in a new country. We have been in your shoes. We can all agree it’s nice to have a trusted friend and mentor to guide you along the way. Through ISV Magazine, you can find guidance from your peers, as well as help others by sharing your own stories.

Our success depends on you. Your voice is our strength. ISV Magazine is your tool and resource.

We hope to hear from you soon. Thanks for reading!

Carrie Circosta

Chief Editor

ccircosta@internationalstudentvoice.org

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Check us out on:

Message From The Editor

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Message From The Editor

What’s Inside?

Meet Francis Satina 4

Embracing England8

Un Noveau Foyer 10

“I am Unstoppable”

3 Steps to Success

A New Way of Life

Driving Discrimination

Making the Most of My American Experience

Chelcie Cusumano - “Unraveling the Voyage”

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22 ISV Spotlight Award

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Fran

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Satin

aH

ello

, I’d

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Francis Satina was brought

to our attention by a group

of international students. Meet

the woman who has been

an angel, a grandmother, and

a friend to so many.

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IHearing about Francis Satina It was another typical cold, snowy, February day in Ohio. It was late afternoon, the sun had started to go down. Members of the ISV Magazine staff bundled up and headed out to meet Francis Satina. We’ve heard so much about this one individual from several International students at the University of Akron, we had to meet her in person. Francis volunteers for a program called Akron International Friendship. This non-profit organization provides several resources for international students, but they have one program that helps international students when they first arrive in the U.S. These students are called “first weekers” and Francis works mostly with these students. She opens her home until students find a place to stay. But from what we read from students, she does more than just provide a place to sleep.

“She came and picked me up at the airport with her two grandchildren,” Nelly Berríos from Nicaragua shared. “Francis carried a U.S. flag, which I now keep in my apartment next to my Nicaraguan flag. It meant so much to me. Through her and this symbolic gift, I continued feeling the warm welcome to the U.S.”

“Mrs. Satina, a very good hearted woman to accept two strangers to sleep at her place and provide us food for free,” Saruul Galbadrakh from Mongolia started. “Without her, I would have more problems overcoming cultural shock. She is an example of good Americans and let me see American people from a bright side.”

“Although I was trying to find place to get in as fast as I could because Mrs. Satina was not supposed to keep us at her house for a long time, she told to us that once I se-lected a few places that I may like she must come to see and “approve” the selection,”

Kushtrim Krasniqi from the Republic of Kosova said. “She wanted to make sure that I found a good place to stay, no matter how long it would take.” The remarkable comments continued in several more pages from several more students. We had to meet this “angel”.

Going to meet the ‘angel’We were able to get her phone number from Nelly and set up a time for an interview. We arrived at a cozy condominium complex

about 20 minutes late due to work traffic. Knocked on the wrong door and by the time we finally found Francis she greeted us with a warm hello and smile.

“Oh don’t worry about being late!” She laughed with a warm smile. We entered her home through the garage and down a set of steps. Through a hallway we found ourselves in a home roomy to say the least, and decorated with artifacts from around the world. We find an Albanian cookbook, along with bonsai trees, a Budda sculpture and Chinese paintings. We sit down and through windows from floor to ceiling, able to see the snow gently falling in the woods behind her home. We notice Francis stands about five feet tall as she asked if we would like anything to drink. She brings us water and sits down with us.

“Francis, we had to meet you. We’ve heard so many great things about you from inter-national students,” we said. Francis smiles. She reminded us of our grandmothers back home.

“I looked at helping international students,” Francis started. “…I have four children. If they went overseas would anyone help them?” Francis told us she took in her first international students 20 years ago. Yes, 20 years ago! One was from Brazil and the other from Bosnia. From there she’s housed students from all over the world: Qatar, Tunisia, Egypt, Siberia, Russia, Trinidad and Tobago, just to name a few . She’s helped students find homes, supplies, and most importantly, she made students feel welcomed in a new country.

“I have to say I can’t take all the credit,” Francis started. “Please know I am a ‘mid-dle man’. If it wasn’t for Donna Early from my church I wouldn’t be able to help. She is just great. Donna is able to get supplies from the church and she always drops off so much stuff! My garage is full of supplies, like food, soap, blankets, furniture.” Listening to Francis we could tell she is modest and gives credit where credit is due. But we think she makes it possible to help international students because she is a genuine person willing to do whatever she can to help.

A lifetime of volunteering“I started volunteering back during World War II,” Francis explained. “Hospitals needed help. I was about 12 or 13 putting milk cartons on trays.” Francis was born in Akron, Ohio and is part of a family of 10. She took some courses in business college, but did not earn a degree. For 25 years she owned a travel agency and said that’s how she developed an interest in international travel. It was when her husband became sick she left the travel agency business to her daughter to run. Her husband passed away five years ago.

Now at the age of 83 she is no where near slowing down.

“You can sit in the rocking chair and watch t.v. all day, but [volunteering] gives me something to do and gives me a purpose,” Francis explained. “The days I don’t have anything to do, I’m terrible! I’ll fall asleep for four or five hours. I don’t have four or five hours to waste, I’m 83!”

A big, international familyWe heard about Francis from the group of “first weekers” she helped this past year. They are still very close with Francis and visit her often.

“It’s like I have my children again,” Francis laughs. “Who gets to have another family at this age? Plus, they’re past their teenage years!” “Plus, no labor this time!” We added. All of us laughed together. It’s pretty obvious the students feel the same way about Francis: “She is so appreciative of international students,” Nelly said. “She welcomed so many [students] for Thanksgiving and for Christmas! She thinks about everything!! She takes into account every detail, every need, is so self-giving and sacrificial!”

“She is cheerful, childish and insightful lady who is still young at heart,” Saruul said.

“Compared to grandmothers in my country

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who are so old, uncapable of driving and going shopping, she is so young which surprised me a lot.” My wife and I are blessed because we are waiting a baby soon,” Krushtrim started. “Once I told Mrs. Satina that we are expecting a baby she was so excited such that she started to buy gifts for our baby, although we still didn’t know if it was a boy or a girl. Mrs.Satina gave us some gifts with green color and she said that green is neutral and it will suit no matter what gender the baby is.”

“Mrs.Satina was a person who gave me support from time to time,” Fahim Tabesh from Afghanistan said. “She helped me not to feel lonely in the days when every-body was spending time with families. I would say Mrs.Satina’s help and support contributes to my daily success.”

Is there someone who contributed to your success being in a new country? Have them featured in ISV Magazine! Email our Chief Editor at ccircosta@internationalstudentvoice.org

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Two of my best friends, Steph and Oli, joke that I was destined for Kent—I met them not long after I’d begun seriously investigating the program, and as UKC students on their year abroad at IU, they were able to tell me all about it. We quickly became inseparable, and their presence only intensified my enthusiasm. It was Steph and Oli that fed my daydreams of Canterbury’s quaint city center, of its magnificent Cathedral, of pubs and fish’n chips and TopShop. It was Steph and Oli who, when I had some second thoughts, convinced me that a semester would not do, that it had to be a year. And it was Steph and Oli that were waiting for me at the gate of Heathrow Terminal 1, holding sparkly “Caitlyn Schwimmer” signs and throwing English decorum to the wind by shouting to me from across the crowd.

Leaving was hard. But arriving, actually stepping off the plane and out of my comfort zone and into a new level of independence and maturity and all the corny stuff people talk about (all of which is totally true) was euphorically unnerving. Steph and Oli took me for a traditional pub lunch immediately, where we celebrated my legality by ordering a pitcher of Pimm’s while munching on our chips and meat pies. I spent my first 3 weeks in England traveling around with and between the two of them—highlights include Cadbury World, the Chapel Hill Beer Festival, Bath, Cambridge, and my first visit to London. When we weren’t off exploring we were at home drinking tea, or at a pub drinking cider.

It wasn’t until I actually arrived at Kent that I started to feel like I wasn’t just in England on vacation, probably because I was able

Embracing Caitlyn Schwimmer

I had my sights set on England from the moment I decided that I was going to study abroad. I knew I

wanted to be in Europe, I don’t speak any other languages, and as a Psychology major I needed a

program that would teach similar theories and methods. The University of Kent in Canterbury pretty

much fell into my lap—it’s the English sister school to Indiana University which meant I was guaranteed

to receive credit for all of my courses, and it was a year-long program. It was perfect.

England

to unpack my suitcases, and because I was in possession of a key. Starting at UKC was similar to being a freshman back home because it was all new territory; only this time there was the added bonus of charming accents. Uni culture in England is fairly similar to the U.S.—students are just as social and outgoing, and everyone still likes a drink. Drinking was actually one of the more major differences. It isn’t a big deal in England; where you would normally invite someone out for coffee in the states,

in Britain you invite someone out for a pint. The university had a bar or pub in every dorm, and there was a liquor store as well as a union-sponsored nightclub on campus. Needless to say, for all the orientation that’s meant to take place during Fresher’s week, it was just as disorienting at times.

The curriculum took some getting used to. Each of my classes only met once a week, and each only had one assignment per semester—either a 2000 word paper

University of Kent, England

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or a presentation. A couple of my classes had an optional term paper (4-6000 words), but most of them had final exams that were to be taken in the summer term. My friends had warned me that at Kent you only take away as much as you’re will-ing to put in—as a result, the curriculum boosted my self-moti-vation, independence, and writing skills.

The other, smaller nuances are so vast that it’s hard to think of everything. There were obvious things, like all of the architecture (bridges older than my country), and the double-decker buses, and the cars driving on the wrong side of the road. People talk more quietly—I didn’t realize that I’d adopted the volume until my older brother came to visit and I felt like he was shouting at me every time he spoke. Greetings can be tricky (handshake, hug, or kiss? Or a hug and a kiss? A kiss on both cheeks, or just the one?), as well as sign offs to texts—everyone leaves an “x” (kiss), and if you don’t some people might even assume you’re mad at them. Chivalry still exists in England, as does a higher standard of fashion.

I spent the whole of my first semester as a sponge, soaking up the town and the campus and the accents and the slang and the people and the clothes and the food and the alcohol and the weather—actually the weather soaked me. I made friends with people from all over the world: England, Spain, Italy, France, Holland, Japan, America. Every time I thought I’d grown used to it all, something new would come along, like the British pronunciation of “oregano”—ore-GAH-no—and every time I thought I had a handle on the cars, I’d look the wrong way before crossing the street, or I’d go for the driver’s side of Steph’s car. In the midst of all this immersion, I was able to take a mini-holiday to Paris and host my mom for a week. I also had a role in a student play, which kept me busy during periods of already minimal coursework.

I spent my break traveling elsewhere in Europe (Germany, Christmas at Steph’s, then Ireland and Italy), and when I got back to Kent, I realized I was finally settled. So settled, in fact, that I had my first bout of homesickness. It didn’t last long, but it was the catalyst for a very defined shift. Prior

to it, I rarely thought of America—I was too busy discovering England. But afterwards I found that home was at the back of my mind far more frequently. It made me a little sad, feeling like the novelty was gone, but it was also a good thing—it helped me realize that as difficult as it would be to leave, I would be glad to be back. Regardless, I had every intention of delaying my return for as long as possible. The semester flew, as did Easter holiday (which included a trip to Amsterdam) and exams. Before I knew it I was packing up my room, and 3 suitcases, 2 pints, and a 3-hour car ride later we were back at Steph’s. We spent a week at Glastonbury music festival (mind blowing), and then pretty much relaxed for another month before it was time to say cheerio.

Leaving was hard. Arriving was emotional. I let a few tears escape at takeoff and landing (pretty sure the guy next to me thought I was scared of flying), and again when, not to be outdone by a couple of Brits, my mother, brother, and two of my best friends were waiting at the gate of O’Hare Terminal 5 with sparkly signs, cheering my entry. It was strange to be there with them in person

after having an ocean and a computer screen separate us for 11 months, and it was a little nauseating to drive on the right. But the weirdest part was that I didn’t feel like I was back. I felt like I was just visit-ing. This lasted for about 3 weeks, during an awkward sort of limbo between being at home and moving back to school, but the excitement of reuniting with all of my friends made up for my yearning to be back in the UK.

I think that pretty much everyone who goes abroad comes back more grown up, inde-pendent, confident, and capable. It’s just inevitable. What I hope most people come back with, though, is a better ability and de-sire to seize opportunity—Steph and I call this being a “yes person.” My year taught me that so frequently we stand in our own

way with assumptions that lead us to saying no, and we miss out. When I was in England, I learned to say yes. Yes to midnight kidnap-pings for spur-of the moment picnics, yes to impromptu ventures to London, yes to getting lost, finding our way, discovering the best sushi place, taking a mini holiday, or even just going to the pub for a pint when I was going to spend the night in. I said yes to study abroad, and it’s the best thing I’ve ever done in my life.

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About one year ago, I was accepted to study abroad in Aix-en-Provence for an academic year. I can remember applying for this program, hesitating between a definite “Yes, let’s do this!” and a “No! An entire year is way too long!” I decided to take the plunge, and I’ve been living in France for about six months now. Before I came to Provence, I had a lot of romantic ideas about how France would be. I thought the social issues would not be such an issue here – after all, Americans always hear about how Europeans are more socially progressive; I thought the Southern French folk would be warm and accepting – we always hear that Mediterranean society is the most friendly; I thought I would absolutely fall in love with this country – I’ve read so many books and seen so many movies about people visiting France and never leaving again. However, I have found that romanticizing a place and its people is a very dangerous thing. Once you’re living anywhere in the world, it becomes a place like any other. It’s not better, it’s not worse; it’s just different. The people are still people with all their own prejudices and preconceptions about the “other,” with their own culture and way of doing things. My first few weeks in Aix were fantastic. I had not started at university yet, and all of my social interactions had been quite positive. None of the horror stories about the Frenchman rebuffing the American were true; I spoke their language to them, and they responded normally rather than regarding me as an intruder. The weather was gorgeous, I had found an apartment with a friend from the program, and life was really good. My first real dose of culture shock did not come until I started my classes. In the U.S., I study Anthropology and the

French language; all my classes here were French literature. Having taken one French literature course at my home university, I was already at a disadvantage. Then, some of the professors spoke in such rapid-fire French that I was completely lost; I tried my best to take notes and keep up, but I found myself staring blankly at my professor more times than I would like to admit. Another few weeks of this went by, and I was feeling lost and unsure of myself, intellectually and physically. I wasn’t learn-ing in the same way as back home and I wasn’t feeling at ease anywhere. I regretted my decision to study in France, and I lost interest in my classes and the language. All I wanted to do was get out of the country. By the end of my first semester, I was worn out. I had made too many plans for myself and had too many expectations for the university and the people: I had wanted to make the same grades that were normal for me in the U.S.; I had wanted to meet French students to practice their language with them; I had wanted to fall in love with Provence, really. And that wasn’t happening. So I began going to class, scribbling notes,

ignoring the people around me then running back to my apartment when it was over. For a solid two weeks in November, I never wanted to leave my room. I had hit rock bottom; I was paralyzed by culture shock. However, first semester ended on a pretty good note. Exams came and went, and I felt like I had been pretty successful. When sec-ond semester started, I had forgotten about all the things I had come to dislike about my new environment. Things were feeling normal. I mean, really normal. I was at home. Somewhere between my intense dislike of all things French and the beginning of my second semester in Aix, I had stopped feel-ing down and out of place. Looking around me, I saw a lot of beauty in where I was. I started seeing the people as people instead of “the French.” I started noticing nuances in their culture and comparing it to my own, but instead of finding faults in the French way, I simply marked it as different. Now, I’m in my sixth month of my time abroad. I only have three more months to go, and I can’t believe it. Looking back, the time has flown by so quickly, and adjusting

Monica Gregory

Nouveau Foyer

Aix-En Provence, France

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to my new home has been a very long, organic process. Of course, there are still days where I feel out of place, but I never feel completely alien. I am so glad that I studied here for a full year so I could really live in Provence, go through that period of adjustment, and come out a changed person. I don’t want to be cliché, and I’m not being forced to write a positive review of my time abroad. But that’s exactly what I want you to take from this. This has been, and continues to be, a life-changing experience. I have grown so much as a person over the past six months: I am stronger, more flexible, more accepting; I have learned

to appreci-ate cultural differences in practice rather than through a textbook; I can travel to places where I don’t speak the lan-guage and still survive and feel comfortable; I can establish a routine and make a home in a completely new place. All this is extremely invaluable to me. A year in Provence was exactly what I needed to transform myself into the person I have always wanted to be.

Did you like Monica’s story? Check out our facebook (www.facebook.com/in-ternationalstudentvoice) and twitter (@isvmag) for lots of other great stuff!

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Being born and raised in a culture as relaxed and exuberant as the British Virgin Islands, I thought I knew how to balance this thing we call life. I felt like if you can survive in this culture, you can amount to anything. Well, I was wrong! After moving to Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida, I found out what life truly is about. The culture demanded time management, ambition, drive and punctuality. Lucky for me, I already embody most of those characteristics but I quickly had to find myself adjusting to this fast-paced life. It wasn’t until after a semester of classes and going home for the summer break that I realized, who I thought I was, wasn’t who I actually was or better yet who this culture needed me to be. Before moving to ERAU, I was never willing to step forward and become a leader or a role model; I never sought the opportunities for leader-ship. Now, I am unstoppable. Being in this environment and community at ERAU, I changed my mind set to one of indepen-dence and self-confidence. I knew I had what it took to be a leader and a role model so I had to give it my all. I found myself becoming a member of the ERAU AcaFellas, a founding father of the ERAU Chapter of the Delta Upsilon Fraternity, and an active member in the Embry-Riddle Resident Stu-dent Association, just to name a few. After

serving on the executive board or all these organizations, I dedicated my time and ambition to becoming a Resident Advisor.

After failing the first time around, I made it my priority to use my defeat as my motiva-tion, and I succeeded. I currently serve as a Resident Advisor for first-year students and I couldn’t be more pleased. This was the job I wanted since I enrolled into ERAU and nothing can stop me from being the best at it. My passion for the position allows me to be that ideal role model for my residents and to be their guide. Like I always say, there are three

I am Un pable

Darryl Flanders from the British Virgin Islands never thought he would

be a leader. He usually avoided it. Now he’s a leader and unstoppable!

Read how his view changed just living in the residence halls.

Darryl FlandersEmbry-Riddle Aeronautical University, Florida

sides to an RA: the caring and compassionate side, the creative and energetic side, and the assertive and

confrontational side. Being an international student as well as a RA, opens my mind to an understanding of different cultures and allows me to teach others - my residents- about culture awareness, respect and acceptance. And let’s not forget how much it helps with creativity!! Becoming a RA was the best decision I have made because it has truly helped me to find out who I really was and how I handle situations. It has taught me how to be more confronta-tional and compassionate and it has brought out a creative side in me that I never thought existed. Thanks to all that I

have learned and gained from being a RA and a role model for my residents, I have gone further and have put those skills to the test. I have had the honor to be selected as a Resident Director for the 2012-2013 school year and I will stop at nothing to get the job done.

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If you have a story like Darryl’s that you want to share, take the time to visit www.isvmag.com and get in con-tact with us!

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Yan Ding (Sammi)Cambrian College, Canada

For International Students3 Steps to Success

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First, it is important to set a goal. In my opinion, international students should set a goal for themselves rather than only focusing on fun. Second, students shoud be more confident-No matter the situation, I always tell myself “I can do it.” In Canada, there are many chances for students such as scholarship and work opportunities. We always have the equal chance with local people and must have confidence to try.

Third, insistence is important. As a international student, we may have a great number of difficulties like communicating in another language. But, please do not be afraid of these challenges, I trust that we can cross them by insistence. When I first arrived in Canada I set a goal for myself. I wanted to be in the nursing program; even if I needed to wait two years because of limited enrollment. So first I choose early childhood to be my major. I did

Setting goals and having confidence and insistence

has helped me as an international student.

not give up because I believed in myself. I believed I had the ability to attend the nursing program. I told the school that I have a Chinese nursing license and 1 year working experience in China. At the same time, I provided a course outline to the nursing program to show what I learned before. They told me that they still could not give me a definite answer. One week later, I gained admission into the nursing program. Now, I always remember that maybe I would not have been able to attend the nursing program without confidence and insistence. I would like to share my story with other students.

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A New Way of Life Munganama Ngosa University of Regina, Canada

My name is Ngosa Munganama. On Feb 28, 2011, my father, little sister, and I landed at Pearson Airport in Toronto. Having had travelled all the way from Africa, Zambia we were very fatigued but so relieved to have actually arrived in Canada. Our journey was not over yet, we still needed to board a final plane scheduled to take us to the final destination, the city of Regina which is my mother’s residence. My mother had settled down in Regina as a registered nurse after coming to Canada a year earlier for greener pastures and wanted my little sister and me to continue life here.

Besides my mother, upon arrival at the Regina International Airport, we were received by a cluster of the Zambian Diaspora residing in Regina. Since it was our first time to be in Canada and better still, in a western civilization, we were so excited and were looking forward to discovering and getting to know the way of life in Canada. As we came out of the airport I could see patches of snow on the ground. I had always yearned to see snow and actually touch it and there it was, all around the parking lot.

The type of vehicles was unique, the structure of houses was different, and generally the way of life was different and unique. As we were being driven all the way from the airport to my mother’s home, I could tell that the environment we had entered was one we only spoke of, saw in the movies and Idolized. To my expectation, like any average house in Canada, I found that my mother’s house’s walls and boundaries are wooden and not build from bricks or blocks, the main door has a door bell, the door knob is round and not curved, the sockets have a different design and voltage level, there is a fire alarm in place, the floors a

are furnished and comfortable, and the house is made up of three stories, unlike the common houses I am accustomed to back home that are merely composed of single stories. I woke up the following morning thinking to myself, “am I actually in Canada right now?” I couldn’t believe that I was in Canada. It felt like I was dreaming. A dream that I used to think may

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never come true. I had always imagined experiencing a way of life that was significantly different from the one I already knew. Of all the expectations I had about Canada, I did not think we would find a large population of the international civilization. For sure, Canada is a multi-racial Nation. Not only is it interesting to be brushing shoulders with local people but coming across fellow Africans and people of other various races is astonishing as well. Eventually I began to get used to the lifestyle in Regina and to appreciate it very much. It seemed to be well thought out and fairly planned out. Generally most people seemed to be very nice, helpful and morally upright in behavior. I came to learn that local Canadians are modest in nature. They usually smile once you glance at them and occasionally apologize and show gratitude, even when it is not necessary. In addition to that, upon entering a building, they usually hold the door for you when you are close to the entrance, which I found to be quite peculiar but self-less and comforting. I was impressed with the public transit system. It has been very system-atically designed. The public busses have a planned schedule to follow while taxi-cabs can be accessed just by making the appropriate phone call. As far as finances are concerned, life in Canada can be quite cumbersome for a foreigner. Even though this is the case, to a significant level, the economic system appears to be quite stable and goods and services are abundantly available and affordable, in contrast to the

economy back home. Furthermore public elementary education is offered free of charge both to residents and foreigners. During summer, when the weather had completely changed and the temperature was very high, my mother, little sister, some family friends and me took a break to go to the Regina recreation Centre to have some fun and cool off. It was my first time being at the beach and I had just received my student visa. Going to the beach was an opportunity to celebrate this glorious achievement. Receiving a student visa was not easy at all. Just the thought of going to the beach was exhilarating. I felt so overjoyed once I dived into the “last mountain lake” to swim. I enjoyed the whole experience of being there. Unlike the condition in developing countries, Universities in Canada are enough to enroll a large number of students, including international students. Though the experience in a post-secondary school

has been time consuming and expensive, having an opportunity to learn at the University of Regina is a blessing on its own. Being in an atmosphere where you are conversant with local and international students is very enlightening. Walking in the corridors of the University and getting closer to realizing a dream career is overwhelming and gives me

hope for what the future holds for an international student like me.

Have your own study abroad experiences to share? Visit www.isvmag.com to get your story published in the next issue!

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“Do you UNDERSTAND?”

And she kept telling me that “people like me are always the same”. She meant that people in my culture are the same, failing or bad drivers or nasty because she was saying that all the time.

You know it was horrible. When I finish I said, “I failed, right?” And she replied, “You were a disaster. You are a disaster.”

Cindy Osorio

Cindy Osorio is an international student from Honduras. She was a student featured in the article “From Honduras to USA, Education Lighting the Way” in the first issue of ISV Magazine. She arrived in Chicago in Fall 2011 to study and she keeps the ISV team updated on her life in the U.S. Recently she took the driver’s license test and her experience was not what she expected.

Yeah I was getting close to getting my driver’s license, but I didn’t get it because I had a problem of discrimination in the driver place so I failed. That issue put my confidence to drive in a bad position.

I had a lady instructor in the driver place. Since the first moment she got into the car, I said hello and introduced myself properly. She didn’t - she didn’t want to touch me and she also made fun of my size because I’m little.

Then in each part of the test she yelled me.

We all have stories of what it was like taking our driving test so we can get a license.

Check out the experience one international student had and share your own.

College of Lake County, Illinois

When we returned then she saw the family that I live with and that they were Americans. She started to act dif-ferent.

This is one of many issues that international students have most of the time, especially new ones like me here in this country. If it happened to me it’s probably happened to other International students. People think that everybody [international] is bad.

I have to try again, but in a while. I have the licence from my country and I can drive, but to go around it is necessary to have a licence from the U.S.

That is why I love so much the ISV magazine because it is a great way to help others though their stories. It is really amazing how many things you can learn about other cultures and students as well.

As an International student, have you been a victim of stereotypes or discrimination? Share your experience on our Facebook page!

Driving Discrimination

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Being at the right place at the right time brought Fateh Khalaf from Syria to the U.S. to finish his bachelor’s degree. He’s embraced this experience by working as a resident assistant. Read his success story, challenges, and advice for international students living on campus.

Fateh Khalaf, 26, is an international student from Syria currently studying for his Master’s in business administration at Southern New Hampshire University. He also finished his Bachelor’s degree in hospitality management at SNHU. Read the amazing story of how he came to the U.S. to study and how living and working on campus helped him adjust to life in America.

“I am very lucky”

Fateh Khalaf started his degree in hospitality management at a university in Lebanon 2004. When the war broke out in 2006 he had to move back to his home country, Syria. He started working at the Sheraton Hotel to make money and in the meantime look for another university to finish his degree. Little did he know working at the hotel would help him find a way to finish his bachelor’s degree.

“At the hotel I was the supervisor of the executive club, the V.I.P. club,” Fateh explained. “Each hotel has a private club or a lounge for only V.I.P guests. Businessmen usually hang out there. The President of SNHU was visiting his daughter, she was in Syria writing a book about the Middle East. He was just a customer and he said he liked my service. He enjoyed his stay because I was around and I took good care of him. I told him my story and how I learned about hospitality management.”

From there SNHU President Paul LeBlanc told Fateh about the hospitality management program available at the university. He asked Fateh to figure out how much he could afford and he would see how the university could help pay for the rest.

“He offered to help and I am very lucky,” Fateh humbly shared. “A lot of my peers don’t get an opportunity like this. I am very thankful.”

Moving to AmericaFateh moved to SNHU in late 2008. As he landed in the United States, he wasn’t sure what to expect.

Making the Most of My American ExperienceFateh KhalafSouthern New Hampshire University, New Hampshire

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“I knew the U.S. through movies, I used to watch T.V. shows like CSI and 24, and action movies,” Fateh laughed. “I thought everyone was gangsters. My family asked me if I knew what area I was going to, is it safe? I went from Chicago to New Hampshire. I got here in January and it was very cold. I thought, God this is freezing! People are friendly and helpful. It’s safe and not much crime. It’s a good surprise.”

From the minute Fateh arrived on campus he lived in the residence halls.

“When I first walked in my room I said God! This is very nice!” Fateh laughed. He went on to describe residence halls in Syria . “In Syria it’s one room with four people. There are two bunk beds and a bathtub. During the summer it’s very hot and the winter it’s cold. You have to bring your own heaters to stay warm. The bathrooms aren’t clean. It’s pretty inconvenient. Here [SNHU] it’s much newer. It’s like I’m staying in a hotel!”

Fateh’s roommate was Dave London, the resident assistant on the floor. He explained since he was new this turned out to be very helpful. Dave was very supportive, even helping Fateh find a better cell phone and a better plan.

“This is why I got interested in becoming an RA,” Fateh explained. “I talked to the Resident Director, DaVaughn Vincent Bryan so every time he had programs going on or an event he would send me an email and ask me to join. I appreciated that a lot because there was someone who cared. I got a lot of support from these people. Those people are special and what they do is helping people. This is why I really wanted this job.”

Life as an RAFateh was able to get hired as an RA during his last year finishing his Bachelor’s degree.

“I was really into the job,” Fateh laughed. “Before the year started I looked my residents up on Facebook and sent them individual messages. I welcomed them, asked them questions to get to know them better, such as favorite color, sport, so I could make door tags. They could tell I wasn’t American! At first they were curious to know who I am and where I am from.”

Fateh was able to create a strong commu-nity on the floor by being available to help his residents and through programming. He received an “RA of the Month” award for his work.

“I learned a lot being an RA,” Fateh ex-plained. “Even from a language standpoint I was dealing with Americans only. This is a golden opportunity to communicate with those people and improve my English. My speaking skills improved 180 degrees on the job. I’m pretty good at writing and listen-ing, but the speaking part was the hardest.”

He was also able to learn about American culture and events, such as the Super Bowl.

“I know it’s a big deal here, so I wanted to do a program,” Fateh shared. “I brought a projector, chips, soda, and popcorn in the common area. Residents can watch it on the big screen and have fun. I got it all set up and ready and no one showed up. Then after an hour no one showed up. I took down everything and left. I asked a resident I knew well why no one came. The resident shared that all the guys wanted to drink and watch the game, if they came out in the common area they couldn’t drink. I didn’t know this was part of the culture of watching the Super Bowl.”

When Fateh finished his bachelor’s he moved to Maryland for an internship opportunity at a Hyatt hotel. After working there for nine months he moved to Iowa to start a new job with Choice Hotels. It wasn’t what he expected and decided to go back to SNHU to complete graduate school. He was able to get his RA job back, but

starting as an RA again in the middle of the school year brought some new challenges.

“I started back as an RA this past January, since I came back in the middle of the year I went around and introduced myself,” Fateh started. “I sent an email and no one responded. I baked cookies and passed them out. I wanted to get to know them and be friendly. They’re starting to say hi in the hallway now, but it’s harder.”

Why International Students Should Live on Campus Fateh explained the biggest issue with international students when studying in the U.S.

“Some students live with other students with the same culture and background off campus and they don’t learn anything outside of school,” Fateh said. “They don’t get involved in American culture and don’t know how Americans live. They stick to their own language and do their own thing. Since I live with Americans I started to learn the language, I had to. After a while I started to learn about what they do, how they live their lives.”

Many international students worry about the language barrier, as well as American students. Both the international student and American student thinks, “Will they understand me?”

“Sometimes Americans can’t understand what I’m saying,” Fateh started. “I remember my RA came to me and said to do this and to do that. I didn’t understand. I had to ask him again. They may be speaking normal, but it’s fast to me. I asked them to say it again and speak very slowly and use simple words.”

Living on campus gives international students the chance to not only improve speaking English, but it provides opportunities to meet American students and make American friends.

“If I wanted to stay here and be comfortable, I have to make friends from this culture,” Fateh said.

Fateh will soon finish his master’s degree and plans to start his career in the hotel management business. Locations may in-clude going back home to Syria or Dubai.

C

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Chelcie Cusumano decided to not only take one adventure, but several with the Semester at Sea program. As she traveled the world she shared her blog with International Student Voice.

Chelcie shared in her blog that she decided to make the trip as she saw graduation coming closer. After some encouragement from her mother she decided to not just do one study abroad, but travel to as many places as possible.

The journey started in the Bahamas, hopping on a boat, and then traveling around the world with 500 students she never met before. She took

11 countries . . . . . .105 days.

“Unraveling the Voyage”

classes such as global studies, religion, gender and society and social inequality. Then in her free time Chelcie was able to have her own adventures.

11 countries, different languages, currency exchanges, cultural shock: it’s all overwhelming, yet exciting. Chelcie captures it all

through words and photographs and you can read all her blog posts at www.isvmag.com

We share with you Chelcie’s last blog post about her Semester at Sea experience. It gives a great overview of her time traveling the world and shows how such an experience can enhance the drive of becoming a global citizen.

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In the beginning of the voyage a fellow Semester at Sea alum said, “The voyage begins when we dock in San Diego.” It was puzzling at first, but as I start to unpack and do some much needed laundry just 24 hours after reaching “home” I begin to unravel what this voyage has meant to me. As I fold my clothes I can’t help but smile at the “CC 3148” inscription on all my tags (written by the crew members so that nothing would get mixed up when they were washed) and notice the new associations I have with each piece of clothing. The long skirts I purchased from TJ Maxx will forever be the skirts I wore when I was in Senase, Ghana for four days during my homestay. Those four days consisted of no showering, 95-degree temperatures, barely-there electricity, a whole lot of cute kids and thankfulness. The lace dress I had made in Vietnam brings me back to the day I scooted around a motorbike all day in Saigon with my roommate, Shelley, and then later attended a Vietnamese reception. The elephants pants from India, t-shirt I wore when I played volleyball up on the 7th deck, skirt I wore as I boarded the ship in the Bahamas for the first time, the dress and scarf turned head- covering I wore in India, and my favorite panda hat from China. My TOMS, which have holes on practically every which side, and my Under Armour shirt from the Amazon, which I swear still smells. All these pieces of clothing will never be the same. You see—my clothes have transformed with me. As I

have traveled around the world and left my footprint, the world has left a mark on me in return. And I have the stained, worn, bleached clothes and hole-filled shoes to prove it. Although I will miss the remarks like “Does anyone know

the exchange rate in Hawaii?!?” and “Why do I need a visa for India? My MasterCard works just fine,” it will be the people I will miss the most. The late night conversations

discussing human rights, global issues and philosophy, all the while never once being interrupted by a text or Facebook notification. Sitting at the piano bar next to students playing chess, overhear-ing the Chinese culture club, and listening to students and faculty jam on their Ghanaian drums

and instruments from around the world. Its been said that knowledge without action is useless. But how could I, just a simple 22-year-old woman do anything that generates change? I ponder this for a bit, but then it hits me: I have seen the world.

I have been to the Bahamas, Dominica, Brazil, Ghana, South Africa, Mauritius, India, Singapore, Vietnam, China and Japan. I have seen the very best and worst of humanity. I have been to wonders of the world, and been to many places people would consider less than desirable. I have been filled with so much joy and laughter

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I’ve paraglided in the Andes Mountains Said a prayer at Hiro-shima fountains I’ve jumped off of cliffs down river gorges And from the Ganges saw burning corpses I’ve seen the Taj; Climbed the Great Wall I’ve Jumped Out of Planes; I’ve done it All Climbed to the Golden Rock in Myanmar I Don’t think I ever have climbed that far. Monasteries, Pagodas, Temples and Shrines Horseback riding in Stellenbosch; sampling wines I dove with sharks and jumped off a bridge I Forced Myself to Really Live. Sure, All these things can be relayed In the photo albums that’ll be displayed But to convey all this will be demanding— Experience is Nothing

Without Understanding. So Forgive me, Mom, if I Start To Cry For all of the things I really can’t describe: Walking next to dead bodies in the road Not reaching out to a child’s hand to hold. The people in poverty and those afraid to speak For fear if they do, they’ll be in jail the next week Because their government has such a watchful eye. All the people with AIDs, getting ready to die. The beggars in India who walk on their hands Because they’re diseased and unable to stand And the people in shacks who sleep inches apart Offer only a smile and it rips out my heart I’ve seen beauty and devastation I’ve felt sorrow; I’ve felt elation I’ve seen birth and I’ve felt death; Forgive me, Mom, but what is left? So if you could, Mom, just give me time When I come home, let me unwind I need a moment to just. Stand. Still. Please understand (I’m sure you will) I couldn’t stay so long at sea And not come home a different me So long as I change, the world changes, too But be proud, Mom, because I came from you.

it’s been hard to breathe, and have shed many tears from fear and home-sickness. I have been lost, scared, and directionless in the middle of a city where zero English was spoken, and yet still laughing with friends because we know someday we will look back and smile. It was those moments I will never forget. My faith and belief system will always remain, but I never want to stop growing as a person. I want to experience culture and hear people’s stories. Never judging, but welcoming them just as they are. I want to immerse myself into different cultures, continue searching and always keep discover-ing. I want to fight for those who can’t and be-come a voice of reason in a place where issues like women rights, human trafficking and feticide are consid-ered taboo. I never want to stop hoping and dreaming of what could be. You see, I don’t have a desire to change the world, but I desire to change just one person. And then one more. And another after that. As Miriam Beard said, “Travel is more than the seeing of sights; it is a change that goes on, deep and permanent, in the ideas of living.” And I’m beginning to realize just that. I leave you with a poem a voyager wrote a few years ago at the end of her voyage. Although my experiences aren’t all the exact same, I couldn’t empathize with her more. Thank you all for your support, emails and letters along this journey. They have meant so much!

Chelcie

I’m Not The Same By Natalie Lou Ritter Forgive me, Mom, I’m Not the Same I think you knew that I would change I couldn’t stay so long at sea And not come home a different me. ... I’ve been to the Mekong; the Amazon, too The things that I’ve done: if only you knew.

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ISV Spotlight Award

Here at International Student

Voice, we want to take the time

to make sure students are

rewarded for their hard work

and dedication to making their

campus inclusive and

internationalized. To that end,

we created the ISV Spotlight

Award. The Spotlight award

recognizes a student who not

only cares about his or her campus

community, but takes an active

leadership role.

This month we have two stu-

dents honored with the ISV

Spotlight Award! Check out the

letter on the next page to see

how Sarah and Mavara work

as the dynamic duo to make a

difference on campus for both

U.S. American and international

students.

Write a nomination no more

than two pages (double space,

12 point font) explaining why

the student deserves the award.

Email the nomination to nomina-

tion@internationalstudentvoice.

org and follow International

Student Voice on Facebook and

Twitter for nomination deadlines

and additional details!

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Dear Sir or Madam:

It is my pleasure to submit a joint-nomination for Mavara Agha and Sarah Freeman for the International Student Voice Spotlight

Award. I have had the privilege of working with Mavara and Sarah for nearly four years and have watched these talented women grow from eager, globally-curious freshmen to informed and respected internationally-focused leaders on the Northwest-ern campus. Mavara and

Sarah currently serve as Co-directors for the Global Engagement Summit (GES), a student group they have worked with since their freshmen years. In my capacity as

Program Coordinator for the Center for Global Engagement, I am an adviser to GES, a unique capacity-building conference for undergraduates from across the world to learn how to make global change from experts in a range of fields. This April, thanks to the leadership of Mavara and Sarah, GES will bring 60

international and American undergraduates to Northwestern’s campus to attend workshops and keynotes about responsible international social change and social entrepreneurship. In order to accomplish

this tremendous—and completely student organized—feat, Mavara and Sarah are leading a staff of 85 Northwestern students, have already raised tens of thousands of dollars, and have been busy planning since last June. This year, because of Mavara and Sarah’s leadership, initiative, and vision, GES has secured an even stronger identity in the international social innovation sector. They have strengthened and established the relationships between GES and esteemed organizations such as Echoing Green, One Acre Fund, and The Unreasonable Institute. They have brought the leaders of these and other leading international change organizations to campus as speakers so that the Northwestern community can learn about timely international topics. From the beginning of their tenures as Co-Directors, Mavara and Sarah have created a cohesive vision to increase the connectivity between globally-minded Northwestern students and alumni. Through their leadership, GES has launched an Alumni Mentorship Program in which current GES members are matched with GES alumni who have begun careers relevant to global social change. Whether it be career advice or personal mentorship, this program helps Northwestern students and alumni connect over a shared interest in international engagement. Although their work with GES would seemingly leave Mavara and Sarah no

time for other endeavors, their individual achievements also exemplify internationally engaged student leaders. Mavara spent a summer studying development economics at the London School of Economics; upon return, she interned at Northwestern ‘s Center for International Human Rights, where she researched and documented trial proceedings for the Cambodia Tribunal Monitor. Sarah spent two quarters conducting independent research in Northern Uganda, analyzing the changing nature of humanitarian assistance in the region; she was later awarded the African Research Leadership Award to continue her research. What impresses me about the research and studies of these women is not only the quality and thoughtful nature of their work, but also how eagerly they share their learning with peers, faculty, and staff; they are consistently mentoring, informing, and inspiring others about pertinent global issues. I sincerely believe this dynamic-duo deserves the ISV Spotlight Award; they have had a tremendous impact on Northwestern’s campus raising the visibility of pressing international issues, sparking thoughtful and informed conversations about the global social innovation sector, and bringing undergraduates from around the world to our campus to share perspectives and experiences. Mavara and Sarah are admired leaders among their peers, respected by Northwestern faculty and administrators, and valued amongst the Northwestern community for their leadership in international justice.

Mavara Agha and Sarah Freeman

School: Northwestern University

Areas of study: Mavara Agha – International Studies

and Economics; Sarah Freeman – International Studies

and Sociology

ISV Spotlight Award

Sarah (left) and Mavara (right)

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