International students studying new media at Ball State are documenting everything they see, and it's not just for class.
Through the lens they notice aspects of American culture like unexpected kindness, larger portions and how to make small talk. And freedom of the press is something they wish for, but don't have in their countries.
"The mainstream media is contracted by the government," Joanne Chong, a law student at the University of Malaya, said. "We as citizens resort to online media, which is not restricted by the despicable government."
Twenty students from Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines are participating in the summer program funded by the New York Times and the Study of the United States Institutes for Student Leaders program through the U.S. State Department. Journalism professors Suzie Smith and Mary Spillman are leading the class.
While on campus, the students learn about gathering audio, video and photos to tell stories. Even though they're not all journalism majors, the students are learning techniques that can be used in their chosen careers.
During the Statehouse tour, Angel Bombarda was among several classmates snapping pictures as they learned about the various offices and the government system in general.
She may not have picked up on everything that was said, but she noticed what it looked like.
"You have a really lavish statehouse," she said. "It's comparable to the President's Palace in the Philippines."
The students are learning skills that can be applied in other areas besides journalism.
Mark Castillo, for example, is learning about developmental communications, which uses media to help fight poverty.
"It only exists in third world countries like the Philippines," he said. "There's no developmental communications in the United States because they don't need it."
Atikah Aznan, a student at a university in Malaysia, said she has noticed cultural differences like the larger portion sizes and the way people speak.
"In America, you start a conversation with the weather," she said. "In Malaysia, we talk about food. We start, ‘Have you had your lunch?' If you say, ‘It is raining or very hot,' there's nothing really to talk about."
Since the media is largely censored, she sometimes turns to American news sources, and she's no stranger to the Harry Potter phenomenon. She even bought a T-shirt and some wands at Hot Topic last week.
"The literature [author J.K. Rowling] uses in the novels is amusing," she said. "But it's a bad translation to Malaysian."
After visiting the Statehouse, students received a tour of the Indianapolis Star and got to watch the 5 o'clock newscast at WRTV-Indianapolis from inside the studio.
At the Star, students weaved through the maze of newsroom pods, making stops at the investigative, photo and online desks.
Danese Kenon, a veteran shooter, had some advice for the trigger-happy photographers.
"You have to love talking to people," she said. "I'll try to distinguish myself from other photographers. If I see a group to the left, I'll go to the right or ask if I can go backstage."
At the television station, Ball State graduate Seth Keever gave a tour of each area of the newsroom before ushering students into the studio.
Keever, who used to work at Ball State's television station, NewsLink, said it's invaluable to get involved outside of class.
"Textbooks can't tell you what to do when something goes wrong," he said. "Stuff you learn actually doing it is so much better than just learning in class."
While there, student Mik Blacer tried to sneak a photo with anchor Ericka Flye between commercial breaks but didn't have time. He said stations in the Philippines would die for equipment like what the station was using.
"I want to be there," he said. "I want to be in an atmosphere like that."
In two weeks, the students will take an educational study tour to Gettysburg, Penn., New York City and finally Washington, D.C.
Aznan said she'll miss the kindness of people in Indiana.
"The little effort to open the door or say hello ... We never say ‘hi' or ‘hello,'" she said. "I think people in my country are very shy."
"It's just the small things, but it means a lot to me."
The students offer community service once a week at Habitat for Humanity and Second Harvest Food Bank as a stipulation of the grant.
Smith, one of their professors, said the goal is to let them interact with Americans and with each other.
She described a "touching moment" from their visit to Habitat last week where they met a veteran volunteer.
"The students interviewed her for their stories. Some of them worked with her. And it was like hugs all around when they left. It's great to see that."
What they've been up to and where they're going:
June 26 - Students arrive in Indiana
July 4 - Attended the community fireworks at Minnetrista
July 8 - Visited the Henry Ford Museum in Greenville, Mich. and went to Greek Town in Detroit
July 15 - Toured the Indianapolis Statehouse, Indianapolis Star, Circle Center Mall, WRTV-Indianapolis and Hamilton Town Center
July 17 - Went back to Indy to the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art, the Speedway and Connor Prairie historical museum
July 18 - Will visit Paws, Inc. in Albany, where the Garfield franchise is located
July 24 - Will leave for an educational study tour including stops in Gettysburg, Penn., New York City and Washington, D.C.
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