Hello,
I have always wanted to see what Americans think about this. What are some lesser known tips about american culture that you think an international might find useful? ( And no, while “Don’t ask ridiculous questions like this one” is a completely logical response, it is not a tip )
What are some things that you think an international student must know to live and thrive in the US?
What country are you coming from?
@TomSrOfBoston Thank you for responding! Iran. But also feel free to give general tips.
The United States is huge, and so much of what you will experience will vary depending on what part of the country you are coming to. Dialect, what is considered polite behavior, weather, friendliness of strangers on the street, all these things are different. Life in our country is probably not like it is depicted in movies and television shows.
Contrary to your parenthetical, my tip is, if you don’t understand; ask. Whether it is language, a concept, directions, an idiom. Just ask. Honestly, Americans are open people and don’t mind repeating/explaining. But you do need to ask bc they also don’t like to presume you don’t know or “get it”.
Also, get a to scale map of the US and look it over. Many students have no idea that Boston is so far from Miami!! It makes it easier to plan if you know that, for instance, if you are at NYU, you can’t just go down to visit an aunt in Virginia for the afternoon of her birthday:)
@powercropper Thank you for responding. I will be going to a school in New England, But I am hoping to receive both general advice and advice particular to my situation.
@HRSMom Thank you for responding! I did not mean to say that I don’t ask. That was intended as a small, admittedly weak joke about how this thread may seem ridiculous. I would definitely ask and try to learn as much as I can.
The part about the map is a very good piece of advice, thanks. I agree that knowing the geography of the host country is very useful.
And we are ok with jokes too:)
International students tend to self segregate themselves with students from their own country. I recommend that you try and develop a network of friends and acquaintances outside of that group: American students and international students from other countries.
You will discover that there is a tremendous variation in what many call “American culture”. You are free to express your opinions and you must tolerate the differing opinions of others. That is often a messy process.
@TomSrOfBoston Thank you for responding.
That is great advice, though in my case, there are not enough Iranian college students in the US to self segregate, which is fortunate because I am very eager to develop friendships with people from different backgrounds.
@HRSMom That is good to know 
Also learn about American Academic Culture…for example, in some cultures copying what an expert has written and putting it in your paper is acceptable and encouraged. In the US it is considered plagiarism (and failure of assignment/course) to not put the ideas in your own words and provide citations for quoted material.
In some cultures the “professors” are more there to direct your studies and you are expected to study more on your own. In the US you are expected to go to classes weekly and there is more homework that is expected to be handed in.
In the US most students live in dorms (at least at first).
In some cultures you take courses only about a specific topic, In the US, you have to take General Education courses in various topics.
Also, don’t say that the way we do something is wrong, and your way is right. But you could point out that your country does things in a different way and you are curious to learn more about their way.
@bopper thank you for responding.
I thank you for the advice, though I already knew those about your academic culture.
FWIW, The existence of gen ed appeals to me.
As for your second post, I can only hope that you were at least partly joking. Surely, people won’t have problems discussing whether their methods are right?
@bopper thank you for responding.
I thank you for the advice, though I already knew those about your academic culture.
FWIW, The existence of gen ed appeals to me.
As for your second post, I can only hope that you were at least partly joking. Surely, people won’t have problems discussing whether their methods are right?
@bopper thank you for responding.
I thank you for the advice, though I already knew those about your academic culture.
FWIW, The existence of gen ed appeals to me.
As for your second post, I can only hope that you were at least partly joking. Surely, people won’t dislike discussing things like that?
“International students tend to self segregate themselves with students from their own country. I recommend that you try and develop a network of friends and acquaintances outside of that group: American students and international students from other countries.”
- @TomSrOfBoston
I can’t agree with this more. I’m an “international student” who has lived on the US for over 15 years. For all intents and purposes, I am American and I have fully adapted and adopted the culture, and am very proud of it. At times I kind of act as a consultant for international students from South America who wish to study in the US and what that poster stated is one of my most burning demands.
You’re leaving your country, going around the world in favor of your education. That’s very brave. You get here, on campus and what do you do? Huddle and burrow yourself into a little group composed primarily of students of your own background. You’re (I’m saying you as a some hypothetical person here) missing out on one of the biggest experiences there is to studying abroad. Interacting with the natives!.
It’s scary, yes, the thought might cross your mind that they will try to exclude you due to the fact that you’re an international. That couldn’t be further from the truth. Universities for the most part are filled with international culture, the vaaaast majority of students either absolutely love the arrival of new culture, or are just indifferent to it.
“Oh you’re from (insert some country here)? That’s nice. So what’d you think of the CalculusII homework this week?”
Students from cultures where people speak in a very direct manner are often surprised at the way Americans respond to them. American professors expect students to be a little deferential. Instead of saying something like, “Professor, you are wrong,” it is better to say something like, “Professor, I think you might be mistaken.” This is especially important if you are discussing administrative matters like grades.
@AGoodFloridian thank you for responding,
Even if there were enough Iranians at my university, I would rather interact with new people.
I am not at all scared of interacting with the natives ;).
@WasatchWriter thank you for responding. that is actually a very good and important piece of advice , though fortunately for me, I come from a very indirect culture. We would say “professor, I beg your pardon, but I believe that you are overlooking something”.
What I would say is that you should be sparing in your criticisms of America and American ways of doing things, at least until you get to know somebody well.
I would add that, as an Iranian, you may be asked some difficult and/or provocative questions (i.e., whether you think the United States is the “Great Satan” or not). Think about how you will respond when questioned on topics like that.
Sorry to bring this up but, it definitely was a problem with my dd’s school in upstate NY: hygiene. I don’t mean to be offensive to bring this up, and it is not intended to be directed toward international students but to everyone.
Sometimes, you are in tight areas: at parties, on subways, on buses, on trains, in bars.
Deodorants, soaps, toothpaste/floss, mouthwash, used daily, are crucial.
No overpowering perfumes to mask anything! Smelling fresh and clean, in clean clothes (not musty/mildewy) will make more friends.
Bad breath turns people away from you and they will stay away with those first impressions. Yes, it is a big deal. You do work in student study teams and when they are assigned by the professors, it makes it difficult to have people near you, who immediately want to move away.
DD looked weird taking and spraying her seat area with Febreeze, in class, because some of her engineering peers didn’t feel the need to bathe in the winter. She couldn’t breathe, and privately explained that to the professors. (They agreed that the heaters and the smells could be overpowering. A couple of them announced hygiene issues and used the excuse that internships would be affected by hygiene factors.)
@Hunt Thank you for responding.
I understand, thank you for that too.
Lol at the great Satan thing. I personally don’t hold such beliefs(why would I come to us if I did?) but many students at my university do, if you believe Fox news (I don’t).
@auntbea not at all offended, it is important for students to remember that they are sharing an environment