The Post About Foreigners

The world’s a big place, that’s certainly a certainty. So big in fact that it’s actually scary to think how small it’s getting as a result of wildly increasing population trends. That, however, is a blog post in itself, and quite frankly, considering this is my final blog post of my multimedia class this semester–not my last ever I hasten to add(!)–I really should crack on with this posts actual inspiration, so I can finally relax, sit back, and release a long, intensely satisfying Ahhhhhh. On that ever-so exciting prospect, let me begin.

It’s no secret that over here, in America, though as an English-speaking student, I’m technically considered a foreigner–a “legal alien” if you will–a term I particularly enjoy considering my enduring love (a love far stronger and meaningful than Elliott’s!) for E.T.–the greatest alien of them all. Nevertheless, and believe it or not, “us” foreign students, though we all sought to leave our home nations, and thus our friends, our families, our “normal” way of life, to educate and live our lives in another country, “we” do, also, give a lot back to our adopted motherland(s). No, no… don’t just take my word for it–it’s scientific fact.

Countries of Origin of People I Have Met During College

*please click the link above and then the markers on the map to view the country*

A study in April of this year, for example, found that universities and colleges whose admin policies “serve to limit or discourage the enrollment of international graduate students” via such means as “complicating the application process, limiting the eligibility to work after graduation or the denial of student visas to applicants with insufficient financial means”, essentially, “lead to reductions in the rate of scientific discovery”. In short, those institutions who welcomed foreign students, by ways such as “maintaining and increasing scholarship support”, would help encourage the overall standards of scientific and engineering innovation–two fields of study that are critical to industry growth. This is one reason that explains why foreign students are beneficial to certain educational systems, but what’s the benefit for the student themselves? Let’s take a look.

In a report (taken by 420 globally represented students from 24 American institutions) that looked at the ‘Perceptions of European Higher Education’, in regards to the United States, published in 2006 by the Institute of Education, researchers found some key pointers as to why foreign students look abroad to study, specifically in the U.S. To briefly skim over some of the most interesting nuggets of information discovered, “78% of survey participants considered studying abroad would further their career opportunities”. Additionally, as a collective group, approximately “83% of the survey-takers agreed that the reputation of academic qualifications and degrees from the U.S. was important in their decision to study in the United States”. Furthermore, though a lesser figure, “71% of Europeans agreed”, while more than 90% of Southern Asian, North African and Middle Eastern students agreed that America’s higher-education system was beneficial to their studies.

Chart to show the reasons (in %) survey participants (20) gave in relation to the most interesting trait they felt with a foreign friend/peer

Such staggering figures may not lead to the surprise that more than 16 million foreign students attend U.S. universities and colleges. Unsurprisingly, once more, many of those students find it harder to adjust to the American way-of-life than others. In a study published by the ‘National Communication Association’s Journal of International and Intercultural Communication’--released in June, 2012–which surveyed 450 foreign students located at schools in the Southern and Northeastern parts of America, close to 40% of participants had “no close American friends” and would have “liked more meaningful interaction” with their American-born peers. According to the survey, “the most common reasons why international students attributed their friendship difficulties to Americans or to U.S. culture were: ‘superficiality’ (32%) and ‘not being open-minded or interested in other cultures’ (25%)”.

Chart to show how many international friends/peers from college survey participants knowNot only are such results a concern for prospective international students, but also, in some ways, to the international community–after all, intercultural relationships and friendships created in an educational environment, inevitably generate a healthy degree of prosperity and goodwill on a global-scale in the future–something the United States in particularly (“the world’s leading higher-education destination!”), is surely in need of. Thankfully, educational facilities do have an outlet to call upon to help them improve their abilities in providing, and then maintaining the international student experiences at their institution. Called the ‘International Student Barometer’, the surveying platform, provided by i-graduate–a global customer insight provider–essentially, helps educational systems become aware of any aspects of their international program(s) that maybe falling short of acceptable standards, by gathering the feedback from the foreign students themselves. Efficiency, for any place of education, is priority, after all.

Graph to show the responses (in numbers) of survey participants who had, had not, or planned to visit international friends/peers from college in their respective countries
“But enough of this drivel Jack–we want more of your brilliantly constructed and cheekily humorous writing!” Well, that’s kind of you to say, but needs must, and musts must be needed! I must digress though, for I realize someone can only take in so many stats and facts for one sitting–not to mention the dreaded prospect of viewing more charts and graphs in a short while (I apologize!), but bear with me. Those brilliantly constructed writing skills “you” mentioned of mine, will tie it all together eventually–eventually…

So yes, as a “foreigner”, although by this point I [almost] might as well be an American citizen (one day!), it’s certainly been an interesting journey during my time at college. In relation to some of those stats above, I can, however, gratefully say I never had any problems adjusting to American culture, which is no doubt because of my familiarity with the country before moving to college here–thanks to working over here previously during the summers–but also because of the fact that realistically, both the American and British cultures aren’t too different at all. I mean sure, we have different words for things, and sure, cars (and most other regularities of life!) are triple the size than back home, but other than that, what is there?! (Actually, don’t answer that–I’m not fond of being proved wrong)…

Anyhow, I’ve loved every bit of my time out here and as I’ve mentioned dozens of times in previous blog posts of mine, I’ve met some of the best people I could have ever hoped to imagine meeting, many of whom have been and are from foreign lands, and some of whom I can also consider great friends to this day. Throw into the mix the addition of those who come from the States, and, well, such a recipe could only ever produce success–or better–happiness. And that’s what life’s about, right? So here, find and click on the link below and see a few moments of that happiness during my time at both colleges I’ve been fortunate to attend. Here’s to friends. Here’s to memories. Here’s to the future.

My College Journey

Ahhhhhh.