As an international student, I think the university offers a pleasant and easy way to get involved on campus.
To all the incoming international students, I would recommend making use out of orientation resources. The day you arrive on campus you will be provided with a package with a lot of information about events and organizations. You really can start to get to know our campus from there.
The first thing I was looking for when I arrived was the location of our HPER center. Regular exercise keeps me energetic and creative, and gives me an opportunity to meet people with similar interests.
Health, Physical Education, and Recreation Building (HPER)
I would also recommend for you to get involved in class by maintaining good communication with professors and classmates. After carefully preparing for each day’s classes, be proactive in discussions with classmates, since learning and making progress together is a great start in getting to know each other.
You should also join organizations that are a good fit for you and your interests. You can find some interesting organizations to join by visiting the Registered Student Organization (RSO) website. It’s a great place to find groups of people who share your interests!
Try to understand cultural differences and conquer language problems. As international students we will differ from other students here because of different language and cultural backgrounds. Whenever we encounter differences, don’t be shy or awkward, just try to understand and appreciate the diversity. Hanging out with friends from different countries is recommended. For instance, we can invite them to join in some cultural events like Spring Festival or Mid-Autumn Festival. On the more technical side of things, we should also keep on accumulating vocabulary and adapting to the local accent. Listening to the morning edition of NPR news is also a great way to keep practicing your listening!
-Harry, China
Take a look below at a few photos from today’s ‘Welcome Breakfast’ during International Graduate Student Orientation Welcome Day.
