During the first week of classes, Deepti Salvi, new international student, had one thing on her mind while making her way through several helpings of International Student Office paperwork.
And that was to get registered and cracking on coursework. LSU culture would have to come later.
One month, two major hurricanes and one home game later of semester setbacks, Salvi, engineering science Ph.D student, has yet to take part in tailgating or a football game. But she said she realizes there’s more to the LSU community than just sports. There’s a human spirit.
“Now it’s how the University has helped the people affected by Katrina so much,” Salvi said, “I’m really impressed with that.”
Katrina aside, Salvi, like most other international students has higher academic standards set to maintain scholarships, assistantships and immigration standards. Adding that to the task of learning how to survive in a different country, many foreign students say it will take some time before they become full-fledged Tigers.
“Almost everybody who comes from abroad is academically focused. Their main point is to get a good education,” said Dr. Harald Leder, assistant to the executive director of the Office of International Programs and the interim International Development director.
“I know the culture here is going to be different and I hope I’m going to adjust soon,” said Salvi, who is from India.
For international students who process may not always come easily or naturally.
Leder said they typically face two common problems: money and time.
They may not have transportation or funds to participate in socializing events where they can interact with American
students and learn the culture, Leder said.
They are also in most cases on scholarships or assistantships and expected to maintain top grades or dedicate their time to those duties.
“International students are serious students. They don’t have a lot of time to spend a Saturday at Tiger Stadium,” Leder said. “Imagine, first-time LSU students it’s difficult to get football tickets. For international students, it’s almost impossible.”
Yet while the Office of International Programs’ offspring departments are making some headway, acclimating takes time.
During the 2005 new international students’ orientation bus tour, International Cultural Center Manager Maureen Hewitt said she wasn’t deterred by the astonished faces of international students as she tried to teach them a Baton Rouge cheer for the football team.
“They were very amused. They got a kick out of it,” Hewitt said.
While the center’s goal is to do everything possible to make LSU a home for foreign students, the center’s governing board president and International Student Association President Indrajith Senevirathne said fear often holds a foreign student back.
Sometimes international students don’t want to offend their American peers, Senevirathne said. Other times, there are language barriers and other cultural practices they may have to adjust or conform to, he said.
Even in cases where there is no language barrier, there are interaction problems. Virginia Grenier, executive director for the International Hospitality, said two new exchange students from England told her they had a hard time meeting and mingling with American students.
Leder said that often happens because only about one percent of American students on campus have had international experiences, through either personal travel or study abroad.
“It’s more of a friendly indifference,” Leder said. “But once American students get in touch with international students, they really begin to realize that there is a whole new world right on campus.”
Through programs from the foundation and the center, both Grenier and Senevirathne said they hope to continue to bridge those gaps.
Dinorah Balthazar, the center’s vice president of administration, who is from Dominica, said her transitioning into the LSU community was not seamless.
“There definitely was a culture shock.” Balthazar said. “I found it to be a largely cold atmosphere.”
Balthazar, mass communication senior, said she found her niche in the community by getting involved in several groups and helping other foreign students learn too that sports and parties are not the only ways to become a Tiger fan.
“A lot of international students actually underestimate to what degree they adjust,” Leder said. “I think the students do change, and they do get a lot more out from the American culture than they actually realize.”
Contact Shaeron Roberts at sroberts@lsureveille.com
Home away from home
October 11, 2005