<p>I am Dutch and I have always found Americans to be genuinely interested in my background, they always think its “cool” that I’m from Holland. I went to summer college in the US this summer and I had absolutely no difficulties blending in whatsoever. </p>
<p>You all make it sound like internationals are a bunch of crazy freaks, which i actually find quite insulting. I can assure you Europeans are very down to earth and normal. In fact, I believe western Europeans are more sophisticated than Americans. You Americans always go crazy about Europe. So stop acting like you’re better please.</p>
<p>I agree with awped. My comments were primarily directed to asian international students having a difficult time assimilating.(I am asian) I have found no problem what-so-ever with European or African students fitting in. I have seen problems with some middle eastern students and asians from abroad and in many cases they just hung out with their friends from their home country</p>
<p>Sorry man, that was definitely not cool. Sure isn’t funny either. I find it hard to believe that anybody who describes themself as sensible would even write something like that.</p>
<p>Your jokes are dumb. If you want to assimilate develop a sense of humor. Also, work on introductions. For instance, instead of:</p>
<p>“and also why dont anyone deal with those black people. most of them just cause conflict, get thrown into jail, and take jobs that the white people don’t want. is that why they are here? to take the jobs that white people dont want?.. HAHA just kidding!” </p>
<p>Why not try:</p>
<p>“Hello, my name is Bill.” Or whatever your name is.</p>
<p>When I was a freshman, my roommate was from SAS. I’m sure OP knows what I’m referring to. He was a pretty outgoing guy, so he made friendships rather effortlessly. Besides, being international makes you seem a little mysterious, so people are curious about everything and that can only work to your advantage. Basically, you can easily make something out of it, if you want to. He’s pretty popular now.</p>
<p>If you know as much as American culture as you claim you do, and you fiercely give 500 reasons why you will be an Asian-in-American’s clothing the second you step foot on campus, why even bother making such a stupid thread? Do you want people to hold your hand and assure you you’ll fit in and makes lots of widdle fwends?</p>
<p>Please. Go do something constructive, like working on your ****ty sense of humor or getting a life.</p>
<p>Like everything else in college life, it really depends on the student.</p>
<p>There are plenty of your typical, shy, Asian international students around who don’t seem to ever do anything but study and play video games. It seems like such a lonely lifestyle and it doesn’t help that their English isn’t very good. Yet I’ve also seen European international students who participate in very active social lives and make very many friends. </p>
<p>It really depends on how outgoing you are. To a somewhat lesser extent, your country of origin may play a role as well. I find Americans are more genuinely interested in European students or elsewhere they would find “exotic.” It helps that European and American cultures can relate to each other. Asian students don’t seem to generate this kind of interest as they generally seem to emit “nerdiness” and their social traditions don’t match. A European accent may be intriguing but an Asian one is just a little sad.</p>
<p>But these are just observations of mine. You can succeed as an international student no matter where you’re from. Just don’t play any of that self pity or “it’s because America sucks” crap.</p>
<p>I’m a canadian student and I’m kinda scared about everything you are.
I think we’ll be fine, especially how fast cultural assimilation is nowadays. :O</p>
<p>IN THE END, dont whites just stick to whites and blacks stick to blacks and asians stick to asians?</p>
<p>i mean, they might have small talk and mingle with other races, but in the end their true ‘friends’ will usually be people of their own race, right?</p>
<p>Eh. That’s not the ideal way to go about…or even the way I think you should be thinking about it. But sadly it does end up that way a lot of the times.</p>
<p>If you’re not comfortable at least trying to use your english to practice and get better, then I don’t know why you’d bother trying to study abroad in an English speaking country. Though if it makes you feel better, being immersed in the language is one of the best ways to learn it, and if you put forth a little effort you may find your English doesn’t suck anymore pretty quickly. You can often tell when English isn’t someones first language and I don’t really think most people are going to bother you about it. Sometimes I have to ask someone what they mean or they use a word differently than we typically do but I still get the idea-- same thing that happens to me when I try to practice my Spanish. No big deal.</p>