Incoming freshmen have several opportunities to adjust to college life, but the international students coming to Ball State University face a rougher transition because of a lack of American help, Center for International Programs coordinators said.
CIP plans a one-week orientation, where international students receive general information about Ball State and some tips to fit in with the Muncie community.
Deb Goens, CIP orientation coordinator, said she wants to provide information pertaining to American culture during the orientation, because Ball State is the first place most of the international students experience American life.
"For most international students, orientation is the first time to meet and talk to Americans," Goens said. "That's why I like American students to get involved with the orientation."
Goens said it's unfortunate that only a few American students participate in the orientation each year, because students of different cultures have a lot to learn from each other.
"Maybe American students are a little bit intimidated," Goens said. "Learn something new from international students while you are at Ball State. You don't have to travel thousands of miles."
About 200 students from more than 80 countries attend Ball State each year, Goens said.
"The first few days of my life in Muncie were hectic," Terumi Sasaki, an exchange student from Tokyo, said. Sasaki flew from Japan a week before fall semester last year. Sasaki said she wished she could have had at least two weeks to adjust to the time difference, to get used to the English and her new environment, to register for classes and to find a place to live.
Even after she found an apartment and registered for classes, she said life here was not easy.
"Going grocery shopping was a big trip," Sasaki said.
Like many international students, Sasaki was used to depending on Toyota public transportation at home and does not have a car in the United States.
Goens said that, in order to get settled, many international students depend on others to drive them around when they need to run simple errands.
Goens said that even something as simple as showing international students how to ride a MITS bus or walking them around campus to show them where to buy books is helpful.
CIP provides various activities that are open to the public throughout the year, such as Cultural Exchange presentations and the International Festival, which is held annually in November.
"These events are good opportunities for both American and international students to make friends," Jong-Young Kim, an international student from South Korea, said.
He said he tries to attend as many activities as he can to meet people on campus.
Goens said CIP often helps American students with class assignments on international issues.
The international student orientation begins on Aug. 16 and lasts through Aug. 20. Goens said volunteers are welcome, and the center will provide short training sessions for anyone interested.
Read More
Three Air Jam teams take home the win
October 12, 2012Nineteen teams shimmied, shook and flipped for a sold out John R. Emens Auditorium on Thursday night during the 25th annual Air Jam.
Bill Clinton Speaks at North Central High School
October 12, 2012Former President's Speech Could Have Effect on State Senate Race
