From red solo cups to the average yellow school bus, there’s something about the College, and the United States for that matter, that’s “just like the movies.”
For many international students at the College, this is the first time that they’ve visited the United States. However, the International House, located in Townhouses South, has helped to make the transition easier.
“It was my dream to come to the U.S.,” said Laetitia Vong, an international business major at Université Blaise Pascal in France. “It sounds so cliché, but it’s true.”
Vong chose to study at the College, as opposed to a larger school, mostly because of its proximity to both New York City and Philadelphia. However, she also viewed the College’s small size as a positive. In fact, she has friends who are studying abroad in Oklahoma, and there are many French students there already, so they’re not forced to speak in English all the time.
“At first it was really difficult to adapt to speaking English all the time,” she said. “Sometimes it’s difficult to get into a conversation.”
The goal of the I-House, according to their website, is to create an environment for international and domestic students to engage in a variety of learning activities, such as culture nights, trips and special events.
“Initially it’s similar to when ambassadors help freshmen on campus,” said English major and domestic student William Westerman. “Where you go for food, if you need help with classes, things like that.”
