International Students: Worlds Within Miami
Nabeeha Chaudhary Photos By Olivia Otten
Issue date: 10/19/09 Section: Feature
A day in the life of most international students at Miami involves a lot of explanation of one kind or another.
From encountering surprised faces who need to be told that it's not a big deal that they speak perfect English, to explaining that they are fasting for religious reasons and cannot take part in a classroom treat, from trying to make someone understand how different their educational system was from the American system, to explaining to a dining hall server that they need a list of ingredients for each food because they cannot eat a certain kind of meat for religious reasons - the list goes on and on.
Elham Shayegh, a graduate student from Iran, says she gets tired of explaining her traditions, such as the Muslim month of fasting. "Sometimes it just becomes so frustrating to have to give explanations and excuses for basic things which people should know about," Shayegh says. On the flip side, Shayegh is glad she's able to study and teach at Miami while wearing a headscarf and have people treat her normally without any curious glances or hostility. Although she feels accepted, she says she is disappointed to not see Iran's flag in MacMillan Hall and is curious why people say "Iran" incorrectly.
"I just wish people could at least pronounce Iran correctly," she says. "They call it 'eye-raan,' which means yogurt in my language."
Most international students at Miami agree students and locals need to take somewhat more of an initiative to at least know basic things about other countries, cultures and religions. Most also say there is a general lack of awareness and a seeming lack of interest in trying to overcome that lack of awareness. Elisabetta Lodi, an exchange student from Italy, says oftentimes students misconstrue conceptions of what life is like in other countries.
"Most of what American students think they know about Europe or Italy comes from movies, which do not always correspond to reality," Lodi says.
However, she believes students can't be fairly criticized for their incorrect views if they haven't ever been to that country before. "Spending some time in a country is the only way you can really understand and appreciate that lifestyle and culture," Lodi says.
According to Lodi, the Miami students she's met don't seem that interested in learning about her culture.
"I don't feel that (most) American students really did anything to get to know me, at least much as all the other international students I met," she says.
Nadir Gabol, a Pakistani exchange student, says even though there is a general lack of awareness at Miami, there are a few majors promoting the study of other nations.
"Often, awareness levels depend on people's majors," Gabol says. "Students of international studies, world politics or Middle Eastern studies, for example, are very well aware, and many others are very willing to learn, even though they might not even know that a place called Indonesia or Bangladesh even exists."
Dr. Nalin Jayasena, assistant professor of English, teaches courses at Miami focused on different countries. He agrees there tends to be a lack of awareness among many students here.
"Living in a small town like Oxford, students often become complacent and feel that they can hold off learning about other cultures for a while," he says. "Lack of interaction with different cultures adds to the problem. A vicious cycle forms where the absence of international students makes it difficult to recruit more."
Because many Miami students have never been exposed to other cultures, Jayasena says one cannot put all the blame on them. He adds that at this stage in life, students should take some initiative and make a greater effort to know more about what some call the "outside world." According to Jayasena, Miami has a lot to offer those who are interested in making this effort. He says students should take advantage of the various courses offered by the university departments focusing on other countries and cultures.
Despite being known for its homogeneous student body, conversely, Jayasena says Miami actually has a very diverse faculty.
"The English department is definitely much more diverse than many other English departments in the United States," Jayasena says. He compares Miami to his time spent at the University of California Riverside. There, he observed nonwhite students outnumbered white students, and yet the faculty was less diverse than Miami's current English department faculty is.
"This (faculty diversity) is another major advantage for the (Miami) students and it is also a fact that can be highlighted to attract more international students," he says.
Miami also offers numerous study abroad programs that promote learning about other cultures. Jaysasena says students should take advantage of these programs, especially those that promote interaction with local students and the community.
Kundus Rysbek, an international student from Kirghizstan, says it was mainly Miami's 200 years of history and experience that attracted her, along with the helpfulness of the international students office staff.
"So far I like my experience here and also enjoy teaching others about my country, but the transport issue is a problem which might lead to my not recommending Miami to others," she says.
Almost all international students unanimously agree, Miami's lack of transportation for students without cars is a major problem.
"Not only does it make everyday life more difficult, it greatly adds to expenses which are already sufficient for many who are paying international fees and come from countries with a weaker currency as compared to the dollar," Rysbek says.
Shayegh says not having transportation limits international students' opportunity to learn more about the culture outside of Oxford.
"This (transportation problem) is definitely something the university needs to attend to immediately," Rysbek says.
Still, it seems most students from across the world enjoy their experience at Miami despite the problems they face. Many international students believe awareness of these issues will help their situation.
"The Miami community needs to make a joint effort to tackle these problems so that we can all move forward in today's global world and develop together," Gabol says.
From encountering surprised faces who need to be told that it's not a big deal that they speak perfect English, to explaining that they are fasting for religious reasons and cannot take part in a classroom treat, from trying to make someone understand how different their educational system was from the American system, to explaining to a dining hall server that they need a list of ingredients for each food because they cannot eat a certain kind of meat for religious reasons - the list goes on and on.
Elham Shayegh, a graduate student from Iran, says she gets tired of explaining her traditions, such as the Muslim month of fasting. "Sometimes it just becomes so frustrating to have to give explanations and excuses for basic things which people should know about," Shayegh says. On the flip side, Shayegh is glad she's able to study and teach at Miami while wearing a headscarf and have people treat her normally without any curious glances or hostility. Although she feels accepted, she says she is disappointed to not see Iran's flag in MacMillan Hall and is curious why people say "Iran" incorrectly.
"I just wish people could at least pronounce Iran correctly," she says. "They call it 'eye-raan,' which means yogurt in my language."
Most international students at Miami agree students and locals need to take somewhat more of an initiative to at least know basic things about other countries, cultures and religions. Most also say there is a general lack of awareness and a seeming lack of interest in trying to overcome that lack of awareness. Elisabetta Lodi, an exchange student from Italy, says oftentimes students misconstrue conceptions of what life is like in other countries.
"Most of what American students think they know about Europe or Italy comes from movies, which do not always correspond to reality," Lodi says.
However, she believes students can't be fairly criticized for their incorrect views if they haven't ever been to that country before. "Spending some time in a country is the only way you can really understand and appreciate that lifestyle and culture," Lodi says.
According to Lodi, the Miami students she's met don't seem that interested in learning about her culture.
"I don't feel that (most) American students really did anything to get to know me, at least much as all the other international students I met," she says.
Nadir Gabol, a Pakistani exchange student, says even though there is a general lack of awareness at Miami, there are a few majors promoting the study of other nations.
"Often, awareness levels depend on people's majors," Gabol says. "Students of international studies, world politics or Middle Eastern studies, for example, are very well aware, and many others are very willing to learn, even though they might not even know that a place called Indonesia or Bangladesh even exists."
Dr. Nalin Jayasena, assistant professor of English, teaches courses at Miami focused on different countries. He agrees there tends to be a lack of awareness among many students here.
"Living in a small town like Oxford, students often become complacent and feel that they can hold off learning about other cultures for a while," he says. "Lack of interaction with different cultures adds to the problem. A vicious cycle forms where the absence of international students makes it difficult to recruit more."
Because many Miami students have never been exposed to other cultures, Jayasena says one cannot put all the blame on them. He adds that at this stage in life, students should take some initiative and make a greater effort to know more about what some call the "outside world." According to Jayasena, Miami has a lot to offer those who are interested in making this effort. He says students should take advantage of the various courses offered by the university departments focusing on other countries and cultures.
Despite being known for its homogeneous student body, conversely, Jayasena says Miami actually has a very diverse faculty.
"The English department is definitely much more diverse than many other English departments in the United States," Jayasena says. He compares Miami to his time spent at the University of California Riverside. There, he observed nonwhite students outnumbered white students, and yet the faculty was less diverse than Miami's current English department faculty is.
"This (faculty diversity) is another major advantage for the (Miami) students and it is also a fact that can be highlighted to attract more international students," he says.
Miami also offers numerous study abroad programs that promote learning about other cultures. Jaysasena says students should take advantage of these programs, especially those that promote interaction with local students and the community.
Kundus Rysbek, an international student from Kirghizstan, says it was mainly Miami's 200 years of history and experience that attracted her, along with the helpfulness of the international students office staff.
"So far I like my experience here and also enjoy teaching others about my country, but the transport issue is a problem which might lead to my not recommending Miami to others," she says.
Almost all international students unanimously agree, Miami's lack of transportation for students without cars is a major problem.
"Not only does it make everyday life more difficult, it greatly adds to expenses which are already sufficient for many who are paying international fees and come from countries with a weaker currency as compared to the dollar," Rysbek says.
Shayegh says not having transportation limits international students' opportunity to learn more about the culture outside of Oxford.
"This (transportation problem) is definitely something the university needs to attend to immediately," Rysbek says.
Still, it seems most students from across the world enjoy their experience at Miami despite the problems they face. Many international students believe awareness of these issues will help their situation.
"The Miami community needs to make a joint effort to tackle these problems so that we can all move forward in today's global world and develop together," Gabol says.
Viewing Comments 1 - 1 of 2
lewisbg2
Byron Lewis
posted 10/24/09 @ 12:34 PM EST
If by "transportation problem" you mean that the school does not financially support enough study abroad or even summer travel options for students, then yes, the school does not help its "lack of awareness" situation. (Continued…)
Post a Comment