I grew up in a culture where respect and good manners are among the most important values that a student should learn. I learnt the appropriate body language in front of my teacher, how to behave in and out of…
Finding My Voice in a Philosophy Classroom
Before coming to the United States, I often heard that American classrooms encourage discussion and participation. However, I did not fully understand what that really meant. In my previous learning experiences, classes were usually centered on the professor explaining the…
Studying in Different Educational Systems
I come from China and I am now a freshman studying in the United States. After coming here to study, I realized that the American educational system has many differences from the Chinese educational system, but there are also some…
From a Stranger to a Returnee
When I heard the lyrics of the folk song *Shenandoah* at the National Centre for the Performing Arts in China, “Away, I‘m bound away, across the wide Missouri,” my thoughts were instantly carried back to the days I spent studying…
Canada to US
When I moved into my freshman dorm, I expected a roommate from a different state, perhaps someone with a slightly different accent or a preference for “pop” over “soda.” Instead, I met Maya. She was from Toronto, and while we…
From Cyprus to the U.S.
I had a very clear idea of what American culture and college life would be like before I moved from Cyprus to the U.S. to attend Lafayette College. Movies, social media, and stories I heard when I was a kid.…