When he arrived at Ball State University in August 2007, Asher John said he thought that no one lived in Muncie except the students on campus; however, he realized he was not in Pakistan anymore.
"In Pakistan, at least you would see guards at gates of the buildings," he said jokingly.
John is a graduate student at Ball State studying linguistics. He came to the United States after he got a Fulbright scholarship for five years to pursue a master's and doctorate degrees.
The Fulbright Program is a federally funded student exchange program created after World War II, aimed at improving cultural ties around the world and bringing diversity to universities in the United States. John said Fulbright had its biggest exchange program with Pakistan, bringing about 300 Pakistani students to the United States every year.
John comes from a country known to many for its cultural diversity and political instability. Pakistan is one Islamic country that allowed a woman prime minister for many years. Benazir Bhutto, who was a rare woman leader in the Islamic world, was assassinated in February in a suicide attack. John said most of the problems in his country were caused by corruption and lack of democracy.
"When I go back, I will work to reform the education system and to do so if I had to, I might even go to join politics," he said.
John said he thinks he can achieve his goals.
"I see a big difference in education system here and back in Pakistan," John said. "I will definitely start from my village."
He said there was a public primary school in his village that has about 70 pupils, but there was only one teacher who taught all grades. He added that to restore order to the country, Pakistan needed political stability and an improved education system.
Sadia Mehmood, another Fulbright scholar from Pakistan who pursues a doctorate in religious studies at Arizona State University, agreed that the education system in Pakistan was not comparable to that of the United States in any way.
"We still have a long way to go," she said. "We don't have good libraries and up-to-date resources."
For example, Mehmood said, a book published in the United States in 2008 would need three to five years to reach Pakistani schools.
John said staying in the United States for five years has its difficulties.
"I like it a lot here, and I appreciate the individual freedoms," he said, "but I also miss home."
John said he would prefer staying in his dusty village and work to change it rather than staying out of his country.
"United States is clean, green, beautiful and modern," John said, "but Pakistan is home even if it is dirty and dusty."
Andres Morony, one of John's friends, said John possessed an amazing personality.
"He surprises me all the time," Morony said. "He is adapting so well in the United State even though he is coming from a country that is not influenced very much by the American culture."
Morony said John was approaching people and was not shy to talk to people who he didn't know.
"I appreciate him and his friendship," Morony said.
Ball State is home to more than 400 international students coming from more than 80 countries. John said during the time he had been here, he learned great lessons not only in classrooms, but outside as well.
"The biggest lesson I learned was to respect and value my own culture and diversity in my country," John said. "I know I will be a different person when I go home, but I will work to preserve Pakistani culture and values."
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