1. Where's home for you?
I live in Shanghai. My family has
settled down there for more than ten years, and I've witnessed the vast changes
of it over the past dacade.
2. What made you decide to come to
America?
The biggest concern is to further my
study. My ambition is to be a phd in biology; and the United States is advanced
in biological science. So, I'd like to explore a little first, knowing how
people live and study in the US, which will facilitate me in the future when I
come here again, hopefully:) Another important motivation is that I want to
refresh my mind towards american culture by myself rather than by media.
3. What was the experience of coming
to America like?
It is really a thrill that I make
myself to such a nation that is so different from my motherland. Generally, the
environment in the US is clean, and there're many farmland areas and historic
sites in Georgia, which is so different from Shanghai and Hong Kong. People
talk in a friendly and faithful manners. I've made some awesome friends here;
without their help, I couldn't extend my footprint to so many funny places, nor
could I deepen my view about this diverse nation.
4. Have you faced any challenges
and/or confusions since you arrived?
The first confusion is the way
people greet. I was at a loss when the shop assistant said "How are you
doing" to me, because I'm not used to share my feeling with a stranger.
Julie, my advisor, explained to me that what they need is just a
"good" "not bad", which is exactly the same when Chinese
greet with each other saying "Have you eaten?"
One of the challenges I face is the
highly tense study. I was very ambitious of myself that I took four science
courses in the first semester, which soon overwhelmed me with tons of quizzes,
problem sets, exams, lab works and writings. I had to relieve myself, so I dropped
one of them later. Though biology is also taught in English in Hong Kong, the
study load is smaller, in which there is just one mid-term and one final for a
science class. The busy mode actually keeps me studying and asking questions,
which I’ve gradually overcome now.
5. What, if anything, surprised you
most about America?
One of the things that surprised me
a lot happened in the orientation. After watching the short drama about the
Mercer life, our O'group, “Swag is Global”, had a discussion outside the
Landale Hall about the sex issue. Branden, my peer advisor who is in HKBU now,
encouraged us to share our opinions, and there was a good discussion indeed;
but for me, it is my first time to talk about an embarrasing topic in front of
many people, so I kept quiet but listen carefully. This is probably my first
direct feeling towards the open mind of Americans.
6. In what way is American culture
most different from you own?
As is mentioned above, “open” is the
key point of American culture; you can choose to favor and believe anything you
accept, and you can speak out any opinions directly. The way people deal with
each other is simpler than that in Chinese society.
7. Do you have any advice for
students studying abroad?
Be observant. People may bahave and
think in a very different way: the way lecture is taught is different, the way
decline an invitation is different, the way people behave in being late to an
appointment is different, and the way people establish and maintain friendship
is different. All these reflect their personalities and the culture. The
observation not only broadens my view, but also refreshes my mind about many things
that I've taken for granted.
Be open. People may have plenty of
questions about you and your countries, e.g. how to pronounce your name
correctly; are there fortune cookies in China, etc. So, don't hesitate to share
your stories to them. Native people also have many stories and opinions towards
different topics; so, be an open-minded listener.
Be optimistic. Homesickness, culture
shock and pressure from study may trouble most international students a lot. I
remember that a friend told me during my hardest period in the US that life may
be different from expectation; we live and we learn. Hardship unseals what is
important and makes you grow faster; the difficulties will finally be the
valuable experience for your life. So, never give up.
8. What is the most challenging
thing about being in a new country?
Facing all the unknowns by oneself
is the most challenging thing for me. I don't know who I will meet with. I have
to face the study and bureaucracy with awkward English. I’m depressed when
receiving a unsealed parcel and do not know what to do; I feel annoying when
the hotline is busy; I have to spend a whole morning just to set up an online
bank, which I only need ten minutes in Hong Kong with a phone call. Fortunately,
I meet with so many nice people that I cannot list them all; they helped me buy
all the living stuff in the first day, apply the social security card, invite
me to their home, provide job for me and admire my work, drive me to the
airport, etc. My appreciation is simply beyond words.
9. What has been your best
experience in America so far?
There is just so much that I think
all of them are perfect. The nice experience recently is a long conversation
with some nice friends overnight. We asked and answered all kinds of questions,
from "What is your favorite food?" to "What is the thing that
you've done but you feel regretful?" I knew these guys more after the
talk, and I feel being closer to them, which I appreciate most.
10. Is going to school at Mercer a
lot different from going to school in your country?
There are some differences. Mercer
is in Macon where it is hard to go anywhere without a car. Hong Kong is a
highly packed international city where you can easily get to every corner using
public transportation. Mercer, as a result, is slower and quiet than Hong Kong
Baptist University. Moreover, many students are major in science and
engineering, and there are a lot of pre-medicine, pre-pharmacy students in
Mercer; in Hong Kong Baptist University, most students take business and
journalism. Last but not the least, going to school at Mercer, I think, is more
challenging because there are so many assessments; professors are serious about
the schedule, students like interrupting and asking questions during the class,
and the study environment is very competitive.
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