Expectations and Differences–Anh Le Nhat

From when I first started planning to study abroad, the U.S. was my only choice, as I imagined the superb education system in one of the world’s most powerful countries would inspire me to become a great citizen.  So far, it has, but it has not been as easy as I expected.

I applied to an exchange program to become a high school junior in the U.S., and on August 25, 2009, I arrived in Greenville, Michigan, a small town about two hours away from Grand Rapids.  I was shocked; Greenville was nothing like I expected.  My school was a small charter school with about 200 students from grades 6-12, and I moved back and forth between host families for the first three months.  I also experienced culture shock, homesickness, and various other daily life problems, so it was definitely not an easy experience.  However, I learned how to be independent, and I became more self-aware, and I got a better understanding about American culture.  Despite all the difficulties, I never regretted going to Greenville; I made lots of memorable experiences and great relationships there.

I also wrongly assumed that classes here would be much easier than my classes at home.  My first year in Grenville, I did fairly well; however, my overconfident attitude led me to a big academic failure in my senior year at a different school in Columbus, Ohio.  Fortunately, I did get the opportunity to study at KU, which was just the right place for me, and I was equipped with some hard life experience, so I was prepared.  I took a gap year to get myself together and apply for colleges, though, so my advice for all students who want to study in the U.S. is to be prepared, physically and mentally.  Do some research about the place you will be staying, be determined, and work hard, so you will not have to learn lessons the hard way, like I did.

My experience in the U.S. and back home are vastly different in many ways; I was born and raised in Hanoi, the capital city of Vietnam.  As a result, I am used to an urban atmosphere, where everybody lives a fast-paced lifestyle, and traffic jams happen every day.  I have studied in Michigan, Ohio, and Kansas, each time in a quiet and peaceful college town, which is much more enjoyable.  At home, I lived with my family, so I tended to be lazy, wasting my time going out or playing video games instead of going to to class.  I also rarely did any chores, since my mom did it for us children most of the time.  Now I am studying in the U.S., especially in college as a resident assistant, I have to be independent and manage my time well, and I have to do most everything on my own.  Living away from my family can be hard and stressful, but at the same time, I have learned to deal with difficulty and become more mature, so I have no regrets about choosing to study so far from home.

The cultural experience in the U.S. is totally different, since I am from a Southeast Asian country.  I have witnessed a lot of differences in lifestyle between young American people and my own, from going out to dressing up.  I have also experienced diverse American cuisine, which has definitely been a great experience so far; Mass Street’s restaurants are my favorite places in Lawrence.  I am connecting with people and learning good American manners, like being on time and polite to everyone around.  However, I know ultimately, I am a Vietnamese guy, so I will preserve the values of my country as I represent it as a KU student.  My small piece of wisdom to all international students is to try go get out of the comfort zone and adapt; however, know who you are and treasure your values, because that is what makes every one of us a unique individual.

Overall, everything in the U.S. and at KU is different from my hometown; however, I am living the time of my life right now, and I love every single moment of being a Jayhawk!  For all the students out there who are about to make that big decision, do some research and pack your bags.  If you choose to be a Jayhawk, I hope to see you around.  Until next time, peace.