Foreign students face challenges

"Do you live in a hut?"

It's a question that Yolisa Nalule '10 deals with on a regular basis. She usually laughs off such innocent misconceptions of her home country, Uganda, but is sometimes less forgiving when she feels "like there are some things that people should really know."

Correcting stereotypes is just one of the challenges international students face. Twenty international freshmen reflected on their first three weeks at Princeton in an event hosted by the International Center on Oct. 4.

As the academic year approaches its one-quarter mark, the international freshman community — a group of students who suffer uniquely "international" qualms, yet find themselves surprisingly similar to their American peers — has started to open up about the challenges of living abroad.

Over the course of the semester, the Center hopes to alleviate some of the common concerns cited by students, including expected classroom conduct, Prospect Avenue culture and stereotyping.

The forthrightness of American "classroom culture" is something that surprised many international students.

"Americans are used to doing show-and-tell from kindergarten up," said Paula Chow, founder and director of the International Center. "However, this is a classroom culture that most non-Americans don't feel quite as comfortable with."

Constantly speaking out and expressing your opinion — and all the while being evaluated and graded for your comments — is something to which many non-American students are still adjusting.

The International Center, in collaboration with the McGraw Center, provided a workshop last Friday to help international students express themselves more confidently in the classroom.

The students also delved into their feelings of discontent with the culture of eating clubs. In general, there seems to be a consensus that the prevalent drinking on Prospect Avenue — not to mention the resultant behavior — makes many international students feel uncomfortable.

"I'd rather dance than help someone clean up their puke or watch them making out on the dance floor," Nalule said.

Stereotyping, another common factor of the international freshman experience, is one of the most widespread. Many internationals said they appreciate the interest that others take in their cultural background, but are sometimes surprised by the questions and comments that come their way.

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"Are there laws in Mexico?" Andres Moreno '10 of Mexico remembers being asked.

Of course, stereotypes go both ways. Most internationals admit that they came to America with preconceived notions that were not confirmed by experience.

"We all stereotype, and it can be so spontaneous you don't even realize it," said Chow, who experienced many of the challenges of adjustment when she arrived in America as one of two Chinese students at a Jesuit college in Madison, Wis.

"You have to have some way of referencing, and sometimes stereotyping is the easiest way. It's something we have to learn not to do," she said.

Some international freshmen said they find that Princeton not only dispels some of their stereotypes about America, but also provides a welcoming environment.

Pakistan native Waqas Jawaid '10 said that within the University's intellectual environment, it's possible to "connect without things like nationality in mind."

Bilhuda Rasheed '10, also from Pakistan, said her fear of culture shock was quelled once she realized that living in America didn't necessarily mean compromising her identity.

"Once we came here we had the insight that we have so much in common with people from all over the world."