International Exposure

Lehigh students come from all over the world. Last year I had two girls on my hall that were international - one was from Ethiopia, one was from China. I have a friend from Morocco, another from Costa Rica. This year I went on the serve trip centered around hunger and homelessness that the community service office offers. Six students were selected to go and one of those six was a graduate student from China. Lehigh students represent 51 different countries.

One might ask, why would any student from another country choose to come to Lehigh in the middle of Pennsylvania. Well, the answer varies from student to student, but all that matters at this point is that they are here experiencing the American lifestyle. The Chinese graduate student that I spent pacing break with had never had any interactions with American people. The five American students with her on the trip were painting a picture and instilling in her mind what America is like. Often the first encounters that we have with people of a different culture than ours leave the strongest impressions in our minds.

Coming to America can be daunting though. Adjusting to the differences between high school and college presents a great change; adding to that acclimating to a new culture as well is unfathomable. However, on campus there are many resources for international students to connect with their own cultures and customs that perhaps they left at home.

This week is International Week. Organizations with an international focus are offering different programs to both expose students to other cultures and also to provide an ethnic connection for international students. While the sense of community established at Lehigh may not adequately represent that of their home, students embrace a touch of their homeland. The week's activities open students' eyes to the diversity in cultures. By acknowledging them, we can accept and embrace cultural differences. A sense of community and support is established whether superficial or sincere. Some people come for the food whereas others come to truly learn about the vast array of cultures. Nonetheless, students are exposing themselves to other mindsets - mindsets of the Middle Easterns, the Spanish and the Chinese. Whether mentally or physically students experience a stronger sense of unity.