From Singapore to Yale: a foreign student's journey

Having my name endlessly mispronounced was the least of my worries as I boarded the plane that would bring me from Singapore to America and Yale. I was more anxious about arriving in New Haven in one piece with all my luggage intact. I realized that my impression of America was rather skewed, pieced toge-ther 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 Airport. I proceeded through customs safely, though, and was on my way to Yale via Connecticut Limousine with surprising ease.

When I arrived at Yale on a sunny fall day, the scene took my breath away. The campus was so beautiful. I will always remember the special moment when I saw the impressive Gothic Sheffield-Sterling-Strathcona Hall looming ahead of me against the pure azure sky. "Camp Yale" was open and inviting, and I soon settled into my life as a Silliman freshman. Even though it was my first time visiting the United States, I felt completely and totally 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 had learned at home was true: American students are more forward and outspoken than students in Singapore. This lesson was reinforced at every step in the United States. Especially at Yale, students have plenty of opinions and are not afraid to voice them. Most students in Asia tend to be reserved and do not participate actively in class, since student comments aren't part of classes there.

At first, I was in awe of my Amer-ican counterparts, who always had so much to say (even though I didn't understand half of what they were saying) and always 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 is still difficult for me to speak aloud in class, especially when I do not understand the text too well, but I am slowly learning. The trick is not to be intimidated or 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 is an important lesson that all foreign Yalies would do well to learn.

This principle also applies to areas beyond academics. I have learned to over-come my shyness and voice my unhappiness about certain issues; otherwise, my problems would almost certainly never have been resolved. My attitude at home was very different, where I hoped the other party would realize his or her mistake without my having to point it out. Some things may go 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; all Yalies must adjust. Plus, most Elis are used to dealing with a lot of variety. Students note that the greater the differences between them, the greater the interest and enthusiasm they have in each other's various cultures, backgrounds, and ethnicities.

There are other day-to-day worries with which international students must sometimes struggle. You would be surprised at how difficult it can be to get shampoo or laundry detergent when every brand on the shelf is unfamiliar to you. Initially, I was too embarrassed to consult my roommates, but once I gathered up my courage, it was actually fun to get all sorts of advice from them.

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 concerns 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 in the crowd since there were always at least 10 other Asians out on the sidewalk with me. I have always felt that American Yalies accept me and are fascinated by the details of life in a foreign country. At Yale, I have 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 have learned much from my fellow students. Here at the end of my sophomore year, I look forward to going home to Singapore for the summer, but I'll come back to my new home at Yale with even greater excitement.

Graphic by Todd Lynch.

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