Foreign students bring the world to Yale

By Hueihuei Teo

Having my name perpetually mispronounced was the least of my worries as I boarded the plane that would bring me from Singapore to America and to Yale University. I was more anxious about arriving in New Haven, Conn. in one piece with all my luggage intact. I realized that my impression of America was rather skewed, as it was pieced together from random episodes of "Itchy and Scratchy," CNN, and other TV exports. Nevertheless, images of gun-toting gangsters and drug dealers running amok in New York City still haunted my mind as I landed at JFK. I got through customs safely, though, and was on my way to Yale via the Connecticut Limousine Service with rather surprising ease.

Arriving at Yale on a sunny fall day took my breath away. I will always remember that special moment when I saw the impressive Gothic SSS looming ahead of me, against the backdrop of the incredibly azure sky. "Camp Yale" was open and inviting, and I soon settled into life as a Silliman freshman. Though a first time visitor in the US, I felt at home, surrounded by a community of friends.

Once the heady days of orientation ended, worries began to set in. Academically, at least one cliché I learned was true: American students are more forward and outspoken. Especially here at Yale, students have plenty of opinions and are not afraid to voice them. Most Asian students tend to be more reserved and lack the habit of participating in class, since student comments aren't part of classes back home.

Hence I was in awe of my American counterparts, who always had so much to say (even though I didn't understand half of what they were saying) and seemed to have done all of the reading (which I could never finish). It took me almost a semester to realize that they, too, had not done all of the reading, and that not all of what they said made sense. It's still difficult for me to speak in class, especially when I don't understand the text too well, but I'm slowly learning. The trick is not to be intimidated and overwhelmed by the sheer volume of other people's words, and to say what you have in mind, even if it seems obvious to you.

This also applies to areas beyond academics. I learned to overcome my shyness and voice my unhappiness about certain issues; otherwise, the problem would never be resolved. This was very different from back home, where you hoped the other party would realize his or her mistake without your having to point it out. Some things may be unspoken in Singapore, but not here.

International students should not worry about blending into the American college way of life. College life is foreign to all incoming freshmen, regardless of nationality, and is an adjustment all students make. Plus, most Yalies are used to dealing with variety: many students note that the greater the difference, the greater the interest and enthusiasm in one another's various cultures, backgrounds, and ethnicities.

There are other little day to day worries. You'd be surprised at how difficult it is to get shampoo or laundry detergent when every brand on the shelf is unfamiliar to you. I was too embarrassed initially to consult my roommates, but once I gathered up my courage, it was actually fun to get all sorts of advice from them. It didn't take long to convert me into a fan of J.Crew and L.L. Bean catalogues.

As a foreign student, you should be aware of Yale's Office of Foreign Students and Scholars, which sends important immigration documents to future freshmen, holds orientation meetings in early September, and helps you with necessary worries like social security numbers and campus jobs. The International Students Organization offers support and provides a forum for foreign students to share their problems and experiences. In addition, many ethnic and national groups have their own clubs and organizations, which host dinners, dances and activities for students who share a cultural home.

One great thing about being a foreign student at Yale is the sheer diversity of the campus. I have never once felt like I stuck out from a crowd since there were always at least 10 other Asians on the sidewalk with me. Through Yale, I have also met many people whose lives and countries are completely different from mine. Just as my life in Singapore sounds exotic to many Americans, American life is exotic to me. I've learned a lot from my fellow students. Here at the end of my freshman year, I look forward to going home to Singapore for the summer, but I'll come back to my new home, Yale, with even greater excitement.

Graphic by Todd Lynch Back to the Freshman Issue...