Coming to America! This is not just the name of an Eddie Murphy movie, but also the experience of millions of college students every year. And it can be tricky – although American students may not be aware, there are certain things about life in the US that international students find are unique, strange and sometimes downright confusing. Here are the 15 things any international student struggling to adjust to life in the USA can relate to!
It may sound like a basic thing but, in lots of places all over the world most places aren’t air conditioned. So when certain dorm halls, buildings, and restaurants on campus have it, its like a frosty miracle. But when other places aren’t air conditioned it leaves you thinking: why are you teasing me?!
After studying accelerated courses, writing essay after essay, working your butt off for two years, it seems like half the people you talk to don’t even know what the IB is! Do you even exist?
You remember it was offered in tenth grade, and are staring to think, “Maybe I should’ve done that? Everyone here knows so much about American History!”
For an international student, this is the epitome of American culture: an absolute overload of all the delicious unhealthy snacks, variety of toiletries, and over-the- counter meds you’ll need to last until senior year. God bless.
For those of you on student visas, you’re terrified of accidentally breaking some law and getting your foolish foreign self removed from the country. What will you tell your parents?
In the US the drinking age is 21, which means everyone whose been drinking since they were sixteen is suddenly shut out in the cold without a nice flaming shot to warm them up.
Most people only speak English. Even when they say “I took French in high school!” what they usually mean is; “I only speak English.”
This makes finding, for example, a fellow francophone totally exciting! That being said, hanging out only with people who speak your native language makes you feel a like you’re stuck in a clique.
You know you’re an international student when seeing brands you recognize from home can make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside.
If you’re returning to the states after living in a foreign country, maybe you’ve found yourself subconsciously trying to translate… well English. You’re just so used to it! And the number of times I’ve accidentally ordered food in another language… countless.
Everyone expects that coming from another country automatically makes you way more cultured, but inside you know you’re the same level of trash as everyone else.
You may think the height of style are your fanciest threads but in the US, casual T-Shirts are just as fashionable.
When people talk about songs and movies that you’ve never even heard of and you have to commit to pretending you know them, or come clean that you’re pop culture-less. For me, I’m not sad that I can’t listen to French rap here, but I am sad that I missed the rise of Lil Yachty.
When one’s awake, another’s asleep! Scheduling a group Skype call, impossible! That being said, I don’t love the 3 AM message alerts. But at least I know that they care.
As most international students in the US don’t move with their whole family, this can leave you feeling pretty alone at times. And finding someone to go home with for the holidays is tricky. Why does Thanksgiving have to be a test of friendship? And what’s the alternative? Staying on campus alone?
Though it can be hard for international students, in the end college is a crazy roller coaster for everyone. Eventually all of us will adjust to this new experience, and all of its quirks. And just know there are people going through the same sort of struggles that you are.
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