America is a country where you can find incredible diversity, but also racial and cultural prejudices.  In their time as international students, our bloggers have confronted stereotypes about their own country and had their own preconceptions about other countries challenged.

Like we did last year, and earlier this year, a bunch of us hopped on the phone over the weekend to chat about whatever was on our mind about studying in the U.S.  But this time, the conversation turned in particular to racial and ethnic issues, driven by this question that we received on our Facebook page:

What is your view to the relationship between Asian students and black American students?

We ended up having a wide-ranging discussion about stereotypes and prejudices – both the ones we’ve encountered and the ones we hold ourselves.  In particular, Simba and Alex discussed the negative or uninformed perception of Africans in America, and the responsibility of African students to help change the narrative.

Take a listen and then share your own opinion.  What stereotypes have you had to confront about people from your country? Have you ever had your own misconceptions about another culture challenged?

Or listen to the mp3

We’ve talked a lot about why Chinese and American students often don’t form close relationships on campus.  We’ve asked whether one side or the other is to blame, which cultural differences might have an impact, and even whether the admissions process has a role to play in improving relationships.

Dandan, who is from China and coming to the end of a one-year exchange program in the U.S., has her own opinions on the matter.  Her close friendships at school have mostly been with other Asian students, but its her close relationship with American friend Maya that is most revealing as to where some of the cultural differences lie.

Listen to our candid discussion as Dandan discusses why she prefers the concept of friendship in China, and what she’s learned about friendship in America.  Do you agree with her ideas on friendship? Can the cultural differences be overcome?

Or listen to the mp3
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Yesterday we shared the first of two recent phone conversations we had to talk about studying and living in the U.S. If you didn’t have a chance to listen to that one, check it out.

In this second conversation, we start out talking about American culture, but with prospective student Vladimir on the line, quickly switch to sharing advice and opinions about applying to study in the U.S. We talk about where to find reliable information, everyone’s experiences taking standardized tests, and what criteria people used to decide where to apply.

And as a special bonus, you’ll hear two horror stories from taking the SAT. Hopefully yours won’t be anything like these!

Or download the mp3

You’ve heard the advice our bloggers had to give – what’s yours? If you had to pass on one piece of advice about applying to study in America, what would it be?

You might remember last year we had a blast recording and sharing a few phone conversations where the bloggers compared notes from their year in the States.

If you haven’t listened to those, check ‘em out.  They were lots of fun: Pete and Repeat are on a Boat…and Other Adventures in American Culture

In fact, they were so much fun that we did it again!  Here’s the first of two phone conversations we had recently. Take a listen:

Or download the mp3

In this one we discuss why the bloggers chose to study in the U.S. and some of the pieces of American culture they’ve found most difficult to get used to (yelling and oversharing). We also share stories about the problems with having an accent, and share some tips for getting rid of it.  Plus, Thuy tells us about what it’s like to study for an MBA.

Of course there’s also tons of advice for anyone thinking about applying to U.S. colleges or business schools in the near-ish future. If you’re only looking for the advice bit, it starts at about 21 minutes in, and there’s lots more coming in the second conversation, so stay tuned for that as well.

Oh yeah, and we almost burn down an apartment! (Just in case the other stuff wasn’t exciting enough for you…)

Azadeh has been in the U.S. for 3 years as a PhD student at the University of Maryland, during which time she hasn’t been able to see her family back in Iran.

Up until recently, Iranian students could only receive a single-entry visa, which meant their visa would allow them to enter the country one time only. If they left, they would have to reapply for a new visa.

“It’s been very tough for me,” she says. Throughout most of our previous conversation about applying to the U.S. and getting her visa she has been giggly and upbeat, but when we turn to this topic, it’s clear it hits home for her.

I know some people that changed their mind about coming to the U.S. just because of the visa issue. They never could imagine that they couldn’t come back even if something happened.

Azadeh tells me her parents have thought about coming to visit her in the U.S., but the family member she’s closest with is her sister, and it’s likely her sister would be refused the travel visa to come over.

If I cannot see her it doesn’t work for me.  And she cannot come with my parents.  There is a very high risk to all of them be refused, rejected getting a visa because of my younger sister that wants to come with them.

I give her a confused look, and Azadeh explains it’s because the visa officer might assume the family is trying to immigrate.

Making the change

The State Department announced in May that Iranian students would now be able to receive multiple-entry visas to study in the U.S. The EducationUSA Iran advisor, who joined Azadeh and I in our discussion about visas, says that after the announcement, EducationUSA received hundreds of emails from grateful Iranians.

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As Iranian student Azadeh tells me about the rumors that circulated among her friends about how to get a student visa to the U.S., she sounds like the foreign students I’ve encountered on so many internet forums.

“People say that if she takes the, for example, the yellow page it means she’s going to issue the visa for you, if she takes the blue one it means she’s gonna reject you.”

The US embassy in Ankara, Turkey has a special section for Iranian visa applicants

But there’s one rumor Azadeh tells me that’s unlikely to go around in other countries:

“Everybody says, ‘Oh don’t go to Dubai,’” Azadeh says of her friends back in Iran. “‘They don’t give you a visa.  Everybody that went to Cyprus they got it, but in Dubai it’s so much harder.’”

Where to go to get a visa is just one hurdle students applying to the U.S. from Iran encounter that most other international students never have to consider.  There’s no U.S. embassy or consulate in Iran, so students have to travel to one of a select number of neighboring countries where the embassy will accept Iranian applicants.

Azadeh is a 3rd year PhD student in mechanical engineering at the University of Maryland. We meet to talk about what it’s like to apply from Iran to study in the U.S., and are joined by the EducationUSA Iran advisor (who asked to remain anonymous).

A common ambition

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Chris talks about undergrad v. grad school in this fun chat

Before summer vacation started, a bunch of our bloggers got together (via Skype) to chat about how their experiences over the past school year – the ups and downs, challenges and victories, and what they learned.

We had some fantastic conversations, even digging into a few topics we hadn’t really covered in the blog posts – AND they agreed to let me record the Skype call so you all could listen in.

If you haven’t listened to the first one yet, check it out – it’s hilarious. But now, I’m excited to present:

Conversation #2: The Times They Are A-Changin’

Or download the mp3.

Senzeni discussed her first year in the US, and Farima and Nick chimed in to talk about how their experience is different now after a few years in America than it was when they first came. We also discussed where international students fit in on campus and how that differs at the high school, college and graduate school levels, and Chris talked a bit about other ways grad school is different from undergrad.

We were working with a combination of telephones and computer microphones, so sometimes there’s a bit of an echo. Sorry about that – hopefully it won’t bother you too much. Also, sometimes you’ll hear keystrokes in the background; typical Type A personalities – we were all multitasking during the phone call!

Part of our Student Union family

Before summer vacation started, a bunch of our bloggers got together (via Skype) to chat about how their experiences over the past school year – the ups and downs, challenges and victories, and what they learned.

We had some fantastic conversations, even digging into a few topics we hadn’t really covered in the blog posts – AND they agreed to let me record the Skype call so you all could listen in.

Our first of two phone calls is below (with links to download if you’d rather do that). I am SO excited to share this with you!

Conversation #1: Pete and Repeat are on a Boat

Or download the mp3.

In this first conversation, Nareg, Alex, Jaime and I talk about integrating into American society, including a hysterical discussion about jokes that define cultures and jokes that cross cultures. “Resident sociologist” Nareg also talked about America’s relative wealth and why that means many people have silly problems, and Alex discussed being an African among African-Americans.

Plus, Sebastian popped in late in the discussion to answer questions about how he got his financial aid package to KU, and how he turned around a quiet first semester to blossom into a social butterfly.

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Shu Wen Teo (Photo from her Twitter account, @shuwenteo)

Shu Wen Teo is a sophomore at Colby-Sawyer College in New Hampshire, where she studies biology (and chemistry, and business administration, and would study political science too if she had the time).  She comes from Malaysia, and in addition to keeping up her busy academic schedule, she has devoted a lot of time to helping other Malaysian students learn about studying in the U.S.

Shu Wen has participated in education events back home in Malaysia and runs the Malaysia Scholarship blog – a blog devoted to finding and publicizing scholarship opportunities for Malaysian students.

We talked over Skype recently about her struggle to adapt during her first year at Colby-Sawyer, why she’s grateful for her liberal arts education, and how studying in the U.S. has changed her as a person.

Have you had a good experience so far?

The first year, not really.  I was really passive when I first came here, probably because of the culture shock. … Then the second year I started to get active and I got involved in the cross-cultural club particularly, and promoting cultural differences in the college.

I’m looking forward to the junior year, actually, because things have been getting better.

Did you ever regret your decision to come here?

A little bit, actually.  Because the way of teaching and learning system here is really different and I was not used to it.

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VOA’s Upfront Africa radio program has interviewed some of our bloggers before, but program host Jackson Mvunganyi really outdid himself yesterday by having Jihye, Sadia, Nareg and Alex on to talk about their experiences studying in the U.S. and writing for the blog.  Oh, and I talk a little bit too.

Excerpts of our discussion will be used in an upcoming Upfront show, but here’s the full 20-minute interview for your listening pleasure.

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