Wednesday, November 17th, International Students’ Day, is a day to celebrate you – our members!
ISO is for international students, by international students. We have been through the same experiences of moving to a whole new country. Today, we praise all the students who made the brave choice of departing their home country to follow and pursue their dreams for a multitude of different reasons. Despite coming from all sorts of backgrounds, international students coming to the U.S. share many commonalities.
We spoke to a few of our members and rather than highlight all our differences, here are four experiences of “culture shock” they shared that bind international students together instead.
“There’s No Place Like Home”
Thanksgiving – a holiday of giving thanks, is a reminder to be grateful for all that we have. But at the same time, it can be a slightly daunting holiday for international students.
While a majority of the domestic students flock home to rejoice with their families and the campus empties out, international students are left wondering where to go. The length of the break is too short to travel home internationally, and plans can be hard to make when many other friends already know they will be home.
Let us reassure you – this is all part of the process and with each year abroad, you gain a better understanding of planning ahead and how to celebrate a holiday that is not your own.
Luckily, many schools and local organizations have programs and activities planned over Thanksgiving for students who do not or cannot return home. These often keep up with the traditions of Thanksgiving with all things turkey, pumpkin pie, and mashed potatoes, serving as a continuous reminder of all that we have.
“Opening A Tin Can Cost $500”
Unlike many other countries, the U.S. does not have universal health care coverage.
While many of us may be used to receiving healthcare services at low or little to no costs, that is not the case in the U.S. There have been too many horror stories of visiting the doctor, walking away with no idea how much payment is needed, only to receive sky-high bills months later. This is why maintaining an active insurance plan is so important!
Don’t let the cost of opening a tin can go from $5 to $500 if you get hurt in the process.
Having an insurance plan will at least serve as a safety net where you may be eligible for coverage under certain life-threatening situations. As fellow international students, ISO is here for you as a resource and insurance provider, making sure your health is a priority.
“It’s 90 degrees?”
Let’s face it – our expression when we first heard somebody talking about the weather and saying that it was 90 degrees on a given day was priceless. Fahrenheit is a system that many of us have needed to get accustomed to. Admit it: some of you still secretly take a second to understand Fahrenheit and convert it back to Celsius!
Similarly, the scare on your friends’ faces when you tell them it is 20 degrees out, only for them to realize you speak Celsius and that they should prepare for a relatively warm day.
Did we forget to mention getting used to miles versus kilometers as well?
“Tax Is Added… After?”
When moved into a new environment with a new currency, that takes a lot of getting used to.
Standing in the grocery store aisles holding an item while doing quick calculations in your head to see how much it costs by converting it back to your home currency? Yep, been there done that.
After doing all that quick math, remember the shock that came after when you realize that tax is added to your item at the counter? Sales tax in the U.S. is later added on top of the display price, whereas many countries include it already on the display price.
At The End of the Day…
International Students’ Day highlights the diversity of students who study abroad; at ISO specifically, our members who study here in the U.S. We want to acknowledge and respect everyone’s differences, their journey.
Understanding the unfamiliarity international students may face when first arriving, ISO strives to be there for them every step of the way as a trusted resource and partner.
DID YOU KNOW?
Even some of the biggest names in the world came to the U.S. as international students – take a look at our article here on fellow international students, who also happen to be founders of Tesla, Instagram, Alphabet Inc., and more!
