<p>hi guys!
just a quick question.</p>
<p>do international students tend to form little groups and hang out only by themselves at colleges? ive heard many many stories like this one, and while it kind of makes sense, i don't know.... what's it like at your own school?</p>
<p>Haha! nice question!</p>
<p>Thats kind of correct and wrong. Mostly graduate students stay and hangout with other international students only. But if you are an undergrad then you probably have to stay in the dorms atleast for the freshman year. Your roommate/roommates are a americans. So you tend to make friends with them and their friends and form a group that has mostly americans and a few international students. Also, you make friends from your classes and they are usually americans depending on you class/ major/ university. </p>
<p>The more interesting part is when the breaks come. Almost all american students go home during fall, spring and thanksgiving breaks. Thats when you are all by yourself! During those times you start hanging out with other international students and often meet a lot of interesting people!</p>
<p>Great question, I was wondering about this too.</p>
<p>I'm kinda afraid of that. I mean, I would like to get international friends too, but I mean, there's no point in being at an American university and not make any American friends.</p>
<p>I definitely agree with you, saaammie. When you are in America, you are not just here to study but to also learn the culture and people. I've been in America for almost a decade, and this problem has been a major issue in my social life. I try not to make a distinction between the internationals and Americans when it comes to friends, but I can't help but realize they can be quite different. It seems like it's sometimes harder for certain internationals to integrate within the whole school, because of their backgrounds, language, or whatever. I personally have no problem, but when I hang out with the Americans, they give me dirty looks and ask me why I am acting like an American in this weird chastising way. It's pretty messed up. Now I hear this is only going to get worse when I move onto college where there will be more people...</p>
<p>@hellomacy
Yikes. That sounds bad. Do you really mean to say that there are certain kinds of people who look down upon internationals? cos lik saaamie says, one of the main reasons for wanting to study in an American university is to get to move with americans closely.</p>
<p>Hello! Just putting my 2cents in. I'm an american that has finally finished all her apps. (except the ones that aren't due till the 15th...haha procrastination XP)
Anyways, it really depends on the person. There will be those who give a effort into getting to know you. I would fairley say that I'm quite into international students. Haha, now don't get me wrong here. But, I just feel that I have a better prospective of the world than most of my fellow students. Mostly, because when I was in 10th grade I went on an exchange program to Japan for a semester. Since, the experience I've been doing more things culturally now. We always have international students come to our HS for exchanges and I always coordinate this potluck between all the exchange students so everyone can meet each other. My friends would think it weird that I would devote so much time to them, but hey who else is gonna help them except their host families, right?
So bottom line is, it really depends on the person, whether they are willing to help you assimiliate into America or not. But trust me, they are out there. Just don't be too frustrated, just because things aren't working out at first, doesn't mean it won't. And its college!!! It's suppose to be the best experience of your life, or so i've heard. </p>
<p>Oh and concerning adso's post about kids going home for the holidays. You never know, those kids could bring you with them.</p>
<p>Like my friend, he graduated last year and now he attends Cornell. He came back over for xmas holidays and he brought one of his friends with him, I think he was from Ghana. It was fun meeting him.</p>
<p>Anyways i've got to get ready for church, good luck!</p>
<p>@coffelover
Thanks. That was helpful. But this is what everyone's been saying. I hope I find such people :)</p>
<p>I was on exchange, and honestly, I wasnt friends with other exchangers at my school. It worked for me. </p>
<p>BUT. When i came home, other people who had been away spoke about being so close with the other exchangers and i missed that.</p>
<p>But i love my American friends, so i wouldnt have wanted it any other way.</p>
<p>but still nervous about going to college.</p>
<p>Each of you is unique, and each of your colleges/universities will be different. Getting to know new people is a challenge for almost everyone - even for those who are very friendly, easy-going, and sociable. You will be dealing with new cultures, environments, weather, food, clothing, language, etc., etc., etc. There will be days when all you want to do is go home, and believe me there are days when US students only want to go home too! You will have more in common with each other than you think. You will probably find some good emotional support from your international friends, and through the international student office. You will also probably find some good emotional support from your US friends. Just try to give everyone a bit of a chance, and don't immediately isolate yourself from either the US or the international group. It will take time for each of you to figure out where you fit in.</p>
<p>And as for Christmas, Spring Break, etc., many US families are delighted to receive their kid's college friends (international or not) for a few days. I'm from Iowa and I went to college in Pennsylvania and to graduate school in Iowa and New York. I always had somewhere to go for a holiday or a vacation. Sometimes I was the out-of-state guest, sometimes I was the one who brought the out-of-state and international guests home with me. If you are a well-behaved guest, you will be invited back. Just be sure to get the names and addresses right so you can send a Thank-you note.</p>
<p>Wishing you much good fortune in 2009!</p>