<p>Hi, my daughter is a French student who will attend Smith in the fall. She is hoping to meet other students for whom English is not their native language and who are also excited/nervous about not fitting in.</p>
<p>Hello! I am an international student from Malaysia and will be attending Smith this fall. I am really(if not overly) excited about Smith, and would really love to meet your daughter too:D ..Anyway, don't worry about her not fitting in, I am sure there is a place for every smithie at smith!</p>
<p>Just in case you don't know yet, there is actually an International Students Pre-orientation for international students. All of us international students will get to arrive at Smith around one week before orientation and hopefully support each other through the transition period that we inevitably have to go through. Your daughter won't be alone:)</p>
<p>thanks, I gathered that there was preorientation. Are you relying on random choice for a roomamate, or , like my d, have you expressed a preference for another international S?</p>
<p>I am relying on a random choice. Whoever it is, I am sure there is something that I can learn from anyone. I think having an american roommate might be a good way to learn more about the culture there.</p>
<p>Lost, I responded to you in the "Smith Bubble" thread, but I do want to add here that usually international students are paired with American roommates, probably to help acclimate them to American culture. That said, my daughter lived in Lamont for part of the first semester and found many internationals in that house. I wouldn't be surprised in Smith mixed internationals with Americans but also kept them "together" within certain houses.</p>
<p>thanks again mwfn. So glad to have found cc with great and patient people</p>
<p>LIT, Smith has a wonderful international alumnae organization. We have a Smithie friend living in Versailles. Contact the admission office and hopefully they can put you in touch with someone locally to help ease your daughter’s fears and answer many of your questions.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.smith.edu/offices.php%5B/url%5D">http://www.smith.edu/offices.php</a></p>
<p>I had another thought: If you’re near Paris, you could ask to meet some current Smithies. As I’m sure you’re aware, Smith has a very well known JYA program there.</p>
<p>thanks a lot. will do</p>
<p>LIT, have your D get a Facebook page now. She won't be able to get onto the Smith network without a Smith email but there's a large group of Smith 2011ers on there and we'd love to chat with your daughter.</p>
<p>i agree with theothermuse. i'm also smith 2011, and a member of the group on <a href="http://www.facebook.com%5B/url%5D">http://www.facebook.com</a>. it has been VERY reassuring to talk to and "meet" other future students.</p>
<p>i am planning to major in french (and to do a lot of studying in the languages) at smith. i'm looking forward to meeting international students, especially francophones like your daughter! good luck!</p>
<p>D is delighted and will get on facebook as soon as she has some free time. I don't know what life after admission is like for us seniors but my D has her baccalaureat in 6 weeks: french lit, philosophy, german, latin, greek, english, history, geography and music....</p>
<p>ah the languages in european high schools. My mom had 7 languages senior year >_< I have no clue how she managed that</p>
<p>"I don't know what life after admission is like for us seniors but my D has her baccalaureate in 6 weeks"</p>
<p>For some, the same as Europeans. My daughter, too, had to study for the last 6 weeks to pass her higher level IB exams in order to be awarded the diploma--not to mention get college credit. It’s rumored students' enrolled the IB diploma program work harder than they ever will in college. That should give your daughter a modicum of relief. ;)</p>
<p>Query:Why is your daughter worried about her English? It appears your 1st language is English, so I would assume she’s much more proficient than her counterparts that only learned the language in school.</p>
<p>Verbal skills yes, but reading long books and writing essays and or compositions is another matter altogether. My native language is fran</p>
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<p>_< I just wrote a really nice post but i pressed the wrong button and lost it all! <em>sigh</em></p>
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<p>Basically, my mom was in the same situation only she didn't know nearly enough english to be fluent. After a few months (as I was told) she did everything in english. Now, about 20 years later I can overhear her throwing english words into convos with my grandmother just because she forgot the flemish or french equivalents. You're daughter should be fine. </p>
<p>From what I saw at Smith when I was there all the teachers and students are very supportive towards international students and are willing to help them in any situation.</p>