As a lot of international students choose to educate in the United States, the relationship between American students and international students is gaining more and more attention. The anthropologist of Rebekah Nathan. In her article “My freshman year”, she decided to go back her university when graduated a lot of years. No one knows that she is a professor because he wants to really understand the relationship between American students and international students and their daily lives. In the process, she learned that American students and international students to each other's views. American students and international students tell their own experiences about Nathan, and in the article, she also expressed his views. First, American students are more independent and stronger individualistic than international students. Second, the attitude of American students to the family is very different from that of international students. Thirdly, American students and international students have different ideas for making friends. Perhaps because of these factors as an obstacle between them.
American students are independence than international students. Reiko said she likes him and his roommate only between the roommate relationship. She never asks his roommate eat dinner together or others because they do not need too much care and care (72). They think roommates are not equal to friends, more like a shared partner. American students believe that roommates should not disturb each other and do not want to touch other people's things. In addition, American students are independence. American parents will give children enough freedom after their adulthood. Even some parents will not pay for all the college tuition fees. Some American students need to apply for a loan and repay after completing their studies. American parents think this is part of the child's growth. However, international students cannot be living by themselves after 18years (Nathan, 73). International students do not have the consciousness of being independent because their parents help them arrange everything.
The relationship between American students and parents has a huge difference from international students. In the article, Nigel stated she invited her family to join the party and she enjoyed such a time, but American students thinks that’s daft (74). American students and international students are treated differently. American students separate personal life from family life. They rarely bring their friends home to introduce their parents to know. However, international students will bring their friends home. For international students, they are happy to share their personal lives with their parents because they and their parents live together.
Different concept about making friend between American students and International students. In “Americans are Self-Centered but friendly? 60 Opinions from International Students”, Stahl stated American students are Self-Centered and they just take care of themselves (3). In my observation, most American students eat lunch lonely at the student center. They occasionally communicate with other students in the process of queuing, but most people focus on the phone. They will share table with stranger and they will be making simple exchange. On the contrary, international students usually adhere to line up to buy lunch or eat together. Several Chinese students leave students because they cannot sit together. A Japanese girl said she keep great relationship with her roommate. They eat dinner together and go out three times for month. Nevertheless, the girl is still not satisfied with the relationship between them. Because she felt that they had gone out as friends with too few times, and that was the case in her country. (Nathan, 74). Under normal circumstances, the international students will appear in groups on campus. International students' understanding of friendship is that they need to stay together for a long time and take care of each other. However, the friendship in America is superficial. When American students meet each other on the road, they only say "hello, what's up man or how are you doing today"(64). At that situation, you may think the person want to make friend with you, or want to have a conversation with you. The author means that these phrases do not mean they want to be friends with you, it's just a facial politeness.
Differences in cultural backgrounds are an obstacle between American and international students. They have difference cultural and language, and international students aren’t open and outgoing (Stahl, 5). American students have their own life, family and friends in the country. It is difficult for them to accept international students because of language problems. International students will misunderstand the conversation between them, and some may even misunderstand. Some American students have a special experience in touching a new culture or making themselves a friend of international students for such purposes. They are only interested in the culture of other countries (Stahl, 9). Some American students think that there is no common feature with international students, and they feel that they are serious in American students like aliens.
In conclusion, there is a great difference between American and international students like lifestyle and a different concept of friendship and affection. International students insist on living together so that they cannot reach out to more American cultures. Study abroad is not only to accept higher education, experience the American cultural life will enrich their life experience. For American students, they should give international students more time to adapt and help them integrate into American life.
Works Cited
Rebekah Nathan. My freshman year. Penguin Books, 2005.
Jessica Stahl. Americans are Self-Centered but friendly? 60 Opinions from International Stu dents. Culture Shock, 2012.
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