Student Perspectives |
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An insight into the experiences of four international exchange students at SFSU |
Thomas Truscott, Spring 1998
Exchange Student from University of Bradford , United Kingdom
I'm not much of a Tony Bennet fan, but I'm sure if I were to hear him croon "I left my heart in San Francisco" from a radio somewhere, it would touch me deeply and remind me of all the things that I loved and will leave behind here. San Francisco State is truly a wonderful place to study, particularly if you are a foreign exchange student, and I'm very lucky to have been given the opportunity to come here for this past year. The cosmopolitan nature of the city is infused into the campus community and it felt like a very natural place for me to be. The whole time that you are here, you are in contact with a wide range of cultures and backgrounds - the diversity of which is both fascinating and exciting.
A great many foreign students work in, and visit, the Office of International Programs (OIP) on a daily basis - along with students that returned from their studies abroad. So, through my involvement with OIP, and, equally importantly, through my involvement with the student association, The International Education Exchange Council (IEEC), I was given the opportunity to become part of that cultural diversity. OIP and IEEC organize numerous events throughout the year: study abroad fairs; orientations; social events (such as receptions, parties, coffee and "Pint Night" pub meetings, etc.); fund-raising activities and cultural programs. I helped out as best as I could with most of these events, but was particularly involved with the International Film Club. This is one of the many programs sponsored by the IEEC in which films were screened weekly to raise funds for the IEEC and contribute to the international cultural life of SFSU. Quite a few hours were spent each month in heavy discussion with other students on the IEEC Film Club committee over which films we would screen for each film series. This was pretty interesting, considering that we were all from different backgrounds and we all had different interests. Through the screenings (in the fantastic cinema department screening room) we were able to show films that SFSU and international students wouldn't usually get the opportunity to see, and we generated a lot of interest in our respective cultures and our respective countries through this series. As a result I met a great many people through the IEEC - both international and American students - and have made some strong friendships. At the end of the year, I realized that becoming active in IEEC and trying to make a contribution was one of the best things I could have done. The irony was that, by putting effort in, I was receiving so much back.
I would also like to mention that, in my experience, the office of OIP was also my touchstone whenever I had a problem. If there was ever any questions that I needed answered, personal or administrative, Mr. Yarabinec, the Exchange Coordinator, and Ms. Jackson, the J-1 Visa Advisor, were almost always available during their daily "drop-in" hours or by appointment, and they would be happy to help me. During my time at SFSU, I would sometimes just pop into the office and I would instantly see someone that I knew well. In short, OIP almost became like a second home for me.
Regarding the city, it is divided into different districts each one a little different to the next; each district lends itself to a different culture. Chinatown is home to both Asian immigrants and Asian-Americans, as is the Richmond district, and has one of the largest expatriate Chinese communities in the world. The Richmond district also has a large Russian community, so a shopping trip down Clement Street or Geary Boulevard can be quite a cultural experience! The Castro is a world-renown center for Gay culture and used to be home to many Irish immigrants. It also has a fantastically ornate cinema showing a wide range of significant movies. The Mission district is home to a large Latino population and is a great place to go at night for the bars and clubs or just to grab a burrito. Towards downtown and the Financial district is North Beach , right next to Chinatown , home to the Italian community but also well known for its jazz clubs and bars. Then there is Pacific Heights and Noe Valley areas home to many young professionals.
Campus is located just south of the city and fortunately the city has a good transportation system, the Muni, so it's easy to get to and from these areas and takes about twenty minutes to get downtown. This is good because I found myself having to travel around a great deal in the first few weeks looking for housing and getting myself acquainted with the city.
After talking to former exchange students, I came with the pre-conception that I would never get to meet many people through my campus life. Thankfully, I was proved wrong. I truly feel that my participation in the student club, the International Education Exchange Council, was a big factor. It's true that, in general, the U.S. students seem to be tremendously busy compared to my experiences of university life in England , and many students at SFSU have jobs. People are always working on something or having to sort something out, but this doesn't mean that they don't have time for you. If you introduce yourself to a classmate (which often happens during the first class), more often than not they will be very interested in you and what you have to say as a foreigner and the views that you have on America. But it was really through my involvement with the IEEC and the OIP, and through my attendance of the orientation week, that I made the strongest friendships. The people that I met through this involvement were all having, or had already had, a similar international experience, and it was great to be able to share those experiences with someone from a completely different background from my own.
There are a great many practical experience opportunities in the Bay Area and northern California, and I have found my time here most constructive. When I've not been on campus, in class, or working on some project, I have been able to take internships concurrently for college credit which will be immensely valuable to me when I return to the UK . There have also been plenty of opportunities as a student in the Broadcast Department (my particular academic major). The OIP has also helped me to legally set up a period of academic training for the summer before I return to England.
In conclusion, when I'm not working or studying, there are plenty of things to do in the city, and places to explore with new friends. There's always something for everybody. As a young person in this city you cannot fail to find something which matches your interests, whatever they may be. In many ways, the city seems to be made up entirely of young people. When Christmas time comes, and everybody goes home to see his or her families, the place is empty! I really hope to return to San Francisco one day in the future. Who knows-in my dreams, I might even live here some day!
Nicholas Jenkins-Smith, Officer, IEEC, Fall 2003
Exchange Student from Brunel University , United Kingdom
Towards the latter half of the fall semester I have both overheard and participated in the same conversations with international students. Conversations about how strange it is going to feel returning home to our respective countries and back to our perceived realities. My time here in San Francisco has been one of immense exploration and insight and, rather than to ponder on the difficulties of readjusting to my previous lifestyle, I am going to see how best I can utilise these new experiences and my newfound knowledge.
However, my first experiences of San Francisco were those of uncertainty and fear. I had travelled with five other excited students and friends from London and we believed that this was going to be our adventure. We had just arrived in the Mission District of Central San Francisco tired and hungry from our flight and a little scared but overawed by what was happening. We were trying to find a hostel that we had booked prior to our arrival. When we found the place, we were told that they had just made some changes to their database and that our records had been misplaced. We then had to find somewhere else to stay fast and suddenly we were not as confident about our situation and began to feel vulnerable. Several cabs later we found ourselves at the Pickwick hotel based in the heart of Powell.
It turned out to be a blessing in disguise as from here we were able to explore this glorious city and really experience its charm for the next few days before our classes started. This experience, along with many others, enhanced an industrious quality and by this we settled in rather quickly. It was surprisingly easier to find accommodation around that time of year than first anticipated. We moved into our new home ten days after we had arrived. Although it was our desire to stay somewhere closer in the city, accommodation for six students presented us with some problems so, in our resolution, we opted for an area called Park Merced, which is a quiet housing complex, close to campus and not too far from the centre of things.
Being foreign exchange students meant that, as our university had a direct exchange with San Francisco State University , we were able to enjoy the luxury of having priority in getting into some of our classes. This is not true of all departments, but this premise was met with some disdain from some students who were trying to add to the class. This was my first taste of the competitive classroom nature of San Francisco State University . For most of the time the other students were intrigued and excited to have an international student to exchange their ideas with. The professors were very helpful and patient and tried to make themselves available should any problems arise.
The element of my time in San Francisco that I will truly miss the most is my involvement with the International Educational Exchange Council and all those who participated in the success of the Study Abroad Programs in the Office of International Programs.
Being an Officer for this organisation has been both a fruitful and enjoyable experience and one that has given me the benefit of forging some fast friendships with individuals from all walks of life and all parts of the globe. I have had to coordinate with other internationals students in a unique capacity that would not have existed, had it not been for my
involvement with the IEEC and I now feel that I have a new family, a worldwide community of friends. The events that we organised and the places that we visited together have strengthened these bonds. The thing that I would have to say which intrigues me the most is the actual size of the city itself. I found it a little hard to digest that such a famous place as San Francisco was so condensed. This, however, does not mar or interrupt the dynamics of this place. If anything, the dense and compact nature of San Francisco intensifies the immense diversity of the city. You don't have to travel very far to find something different, and there is always a festival, fair or cultural event occurring within the realms of the Bay Area.
At first it can be strange to walk in an area of town to suddenly turn a corner and arrive into an antithesis of the environment you were just in. But I soon learned to understand this oddness as part of the endearing qualities that I will miss about San Francisco.
Sarah Houbolt, Fall 2003
Exchange Student from Griffith University , Australia
During my one semester at San Francisco State University, I learnt a lot about American culture and society through studying sociology and politics and making friends within my classes. I 'm a very vocal person in class and an occasionally social person outside of class, so after my initial two months of culture shock, I found a lot of people wanted to give me their phone numbers and show me around town. I found it important though to maintain a balance between socializing with my new international exchange student friends, socializing with my new American friends, and designating time for myself to do the things I came here to do, especially relating to hobbies and academic networking. This semester I made some amazing friends from around the world, friends who really were there to listen to my minor frustrations and who knew that I would listen and understand their own minor frustrations of being in a new country on exchange. I have many fond memories of being involved with the IEEC, especially participating in all the social activities like going to the bon fire, Monterrey Jazz Festival and Pint Nights.
I arrived in San Francisco three weeks before the J-1 orientation sessions in order to settle in before classes began. The Craigslist ( www.craigslist.org ) website is a helpful tool for finding housing and the thrift shops around the city are great for bargain clothes and cheap household supplies. Originally I wanted to live in a sharehouse in the Haight or the Mission districts, which are quite lively neighbourhoods and conveniently accessed by public transportation. Budgeting for the average monthly rent of US$800, I searched Craigslist and went to check out numerous houses, but I either wasn't selected as the perfect housemate or didn't get a good vibe from the living environments. Some of the international exchange students organized during orientation week to find a vacant house and move in with each other, while some found it easy to rent a room either on campus or within an existing apartment/sharehouse. I ended up staying for the whole semester in the YMCA hostel. The YMCA student deal is basically $550 per month rent, including breakfast and access to the sporting facilities and recreation classes (and the SAUNA!!) within the building. I had my own private room, but like in most hostels, shared the kitchen and female bathroom. Although there are lots of great, cheap places to eat out (ask the American IEEC members, they can tell you all about the best places for any type of food you want), I mainly cooked my own meals so that I could spend the money on clothes shopping..and shoes...!
My classes at SFSU were informative. Some people had a few problems getting a couple of classes that they wanted, but as long as you're organized and have done your research, you should have no worries. I had an average workload of four subjects, which equalled 16 SFSU units and were mainly assessed by final exams, reading reports and essays. I was already familiar with the subject area (sociology & politics), so I really looked forwards to attending class in order to talk with local students, learn about how they view education, and observe how they interact. You learn a lot more about society if you participate (like, going to school), instead of just wandering around as a tourist. It did take me a little while to adjust to the different teaching style though. The classroom was also the setting where I learnt all the California slang terminology, like 'Hella', 66'what up', 'who cut the cheese?' and 'right on'. To make friends, I also joined the Sociology Students Association, and hung out in the Sociology lounge during my breaks.
There are many things to see and do around the Bay Area. Before arriving in San Francisco , I backpacked around the world for six months, so I was a bit sick of all the normal touristy stuff by the time I entered America . What I did in my spare time was to go to political rallies, see local music bands, attend the Castro and Folsom Street Fairs, and participate in an aerial dance (circus trapeze) workshop in Berkeley. I really feel lucky to have had the opportunity to study at SFSU. I've had an amazing year and have a totally new understanding of how things work in America . I've already networked with the SFSU Political Science Department in order to come back to the Bay Area and do an internship. I've been able to go to underground dance and hip hop parties that only the locals know about, and I've got more friends to visit and places to stay the next time I travel. It wasn't always easy, and some weeks were depressing, but overall, I had a great time. I hope you do too. Keep It Real.
Tsubasa Imasaka, Fall/Spring 2003-2004
Exchange Student from Waseda University, Japan
Before I left San Francisco, I was sure that I would greatly miss my friends in San Francisco, the culturally diverse campus of San Francisco State University, and the city. Now it is turned out that it was true. Studying for one year at SFSU as an exchange student was a big challenge for me, and the experience provided opportunities to meet great people and to touch various cultures. Importantly, the Office of International Program (OIP) and the International Educational Exchange Council (IEEC) make the study abroad experience at SFSU much greater. I am a 21-year-old J-1 exchange student who is majoring in Political Science from Waseda University in Japan. I would like to tell my experience as a J-1 exchange student at SFSU.
One of the good features of the campus of SFSU is its diversity, and it provides you a rich environment to study with various perspectives. According to the website of SFSU, approximately 2600 international students from 100 countries are studying at SFSU. Therefore, you can share different cultures and views with your classmates on this campus. When I was taking an International Relations course, I gave a presentation on human rights violations and ethnic conflicts in a certain country. After that, I talked with my classmate who is from the country. I was glad that I could hear about the situation there from her. It is a great opportunity for studying since you can find out that there are many different views on one phenomenon in society depending on who you talk to. It must help your understanding of social problems in the world and seeking the solutions.
The Office of International is very helpful in your life at SFSU as an exchange student. When I had a problem or questions, people in the OIP were available, and they helped me a lot. I greatly appreciate their help and kindness. They also held events to make us familiar with the campus and the city. For example, OIP hold an orientation for J-1 students in the beginning of the first semester and I learned information on VISA requirements, tips for the academic work at San Francisco State University, and basic information about the campus and the city. The three tours led by Mr. Yarabinec were especially fun and informing.
The International Educational Exchange Council made my life at SFSU much richer because it gave me opportunity to get to know exchange students from other countries and American students who are going to leave for other countries as exchange students. IEEC held many events such as academic events, social events, sports events, and film screenings. Three best memorable events for me are the International Information Fair, Film Screenings, and the Food Exchange Event. In the International Information Fair, each country had one table in the quad in front of the Cesar Chavez Student Center, and exchange students presented their own countries, culture, and the study abroad programs to the country. I wore a Yukata, which is Kimono for summer; in addition, I introduced Japanese calligraphy and Japanese alphabets through offering to write people's names in Japanese. The International Film Committee, one of the IEEC committees, held movie screenings once a week, and the movies they show are well-chosen movies and some of the movies are rare in terms of the chance to see them in your own country. I liked the event not only because I am a big movie fan who can see three movies in a row, but also because the selection of the movies was excellent. It is a perfect opportunity to learn about other cultures because you can enjoy good movies at the same time. I believe that when you come to be interested in different cultures, you can find chance to touch the culture and finding people who are from the country on the campus at SFSU is a possibility. In the Food Exchange, many exchange students cooked their traditional foods and we had a pot luck party. I cooked many sushi rolls for the party. I had a good time talking to people there.
The academic work at SFSU was challenging for me since I am not a native English speaker; however, I have learned a lot and achieved my goals with the faculty and my classmates. Whenever I went to professors' offices during office hours, they welcomed me and answered questions that I had. Professors gave me useful feedbacks when I wrote emails to ask something I did not understand in class. Moreover, I met one of my best friends at SFSU during my stay in San Francisco . She was my classmate and she asked me if I wanted to study with her. That is how I met her. She and I often held study sessions before exams. Of course we hung out frequently too. I have met great people as professors and classmates, so I am glad that I got the chance to study for one year at SFSU.
The experience to study at San Francisco State University is significant for me since it broadened my horizons, I met many great people in San Francisco, and I have fantastic memories. Furthermore, I appreciate people in the Office of International Program because they were always supportive.
Jan Welscheid, Special Events Committee, IEEC, Fall 2003
Exchange Student from Furtwangen University , Germany
The Orientation week, organized by the OIP (Office of International Program) was very important to me and the rest of the approximately 150 J-1 exchange students, as it displayed the differences of the American campus life in panel discussions with SFSU students, presentations by experts or campus tours and gradually brought the crowd of international students closer together. We also talked about important issues like housing, transportation, driver licence, social security, the city of San Francisco , living on a student budget, sex and health insurance. After the mandatory portions of the Orientation, Mr. Yarabinec, Coodinator of Study Abroad and International Exchange, led organized city tours through the Castro District and Nob Hill and an "Old Time Movie Night". During the Orientation Week, international students could volunteer to become IEEC (International Educational Exchange Council) officers or university representatives that organize on and off campus activities for both international and domestic SFSU students.
I took the opportunity and got involved in the IEEC special event committee and organized two excursions during the semester. As I am passionate about ice hockey, I organized a game evening in the San Jose HP-Arena, the home of the San Jose Sharks. It was an unforgettable experience when we were greeted during the second and third period on the media cube with the words "Welcome to the IEEC international students"! Everybody had a wonderful time and the game was exciting!
The second outing that many students enjoyed was the Sonoma wine tasting tour. We left San Francisco early in the morning with a fully packed 55-passenger bus towards the wineries in Sonoma Country, half an hour north of San Francisco . Beside a free winery tour in the Chateau St. Jean, everybody enjoyed free wine tasting in three other wineries, a lunch break in the beautiful Sonoma village and lots of fun on our drive up and back down to SF again.
The IEEC also offered numerous other activities, such as sports, weekly pint nights (exploring the night scene of SF) and weekly movies, a ski trip, international fairs, a bonfire at the beach and an end of the semester party. Everybody involved in the IEEC or participating in the IEEC events had an unforgettable time! The international crowd and spirit that we shared also inspired many domestic SFSU students to dare the adventure to study abroad.
Living in San Francisco is great! I knew that from a previous visit to California . What I didn't know until then were the horrific rents that one has to pay to live in the city! I found a wonderful room with a loving elderly Canadian lady in the sunset area (calm neighbourhood close to the SFSU) at a relatively reasonable price ($650/month). Finding a place is relatively easy if you check out craigslist (www.craigslist.org ). Within two days after my arrival I found the place and moved in. I think it was a good choice to decide to stay with a citizen as one can really extend ones acquaintances beyond the campus life.
To get around I bought a Motorcycle for which it is easy to pass the test, and which is also quite affordable and fast transportation. It enabled me to do trips up and down the coast, over to Berkeley and further inland and is just so much fun in a country where it barely rains and the sun often shines! Motorcycle season is all year round and you can always meet other friendly bikers on your way.
Beside all the fun stuff, I also had to concentrate on school, even though I considered it as a lot of fun too! The American system is quite different from the German system. Attendance and participation account for a major part of the final grade in many classes. Midterm and final exams aren't as tough as they are in Germany which is also because many teachers use multiple choice tests.
One thing that was really very advanced and helped me a lot was the ease of choosing courses and registering online. I did all of that prior to my arrival in the states and chose classes that were prerequisites for the business degree at my home university. However I changed almost all of them after I went to the first lectures and found out that they weren't quite what I expected them to be. I found the academic level to be lower than in Germany , what encouraged me to select some graduate courses instead. I found the professors to be well qualified and very helpful if I had additional questions or troubles with the course material. Every teacher has his or her office hours posted and most of them try to arrange another meeting time if you cannot make it at their times. Even though around 28,000 students attend SFSU, I usually felt the humanistic touch between student and professor which made my stay a great experience.
For the fun of it I choose some sport classes which weren't related to my business degree. Two times a week I practiced Karate and improved my handicap in a golf class. But the university offers also a lot of other sports to any registered student for which one doesn't have to enroll. There are public pool, basketball etc. hours as well as yoga or aerobic classes which are instructed by students. I also really enjoyed the many hours that we played tennis on the free of charge tennis courts of SFSU. Proximity to the Harding Park with its lake and golf course also offers ideal running conditions.
Altogether, I really enjoyed my stay in San Francisco and my studies at SFSU! Participating in the IEEC club helped me to meet many interesting people from different cultures that all wanted to contribute to an exciting time at SFSU. Being at parties together and organizing successful events made us all become friends and I am looking forward to seeing some of them again in the years to come!
