I love studying in the U.S. I love the traveling, the cultural differences, the different people. I even love the different food every once in a while. But there is one thing I don’t like about studying in the US, and that is the questions I get as an international student. Don’t get me wrong, I am perfectly fine with people asking me things about the Netherlands, or about being abroad, but there are certain questions that are so annoying, or outright stupid, that they are difficult to answer. To make sure that no one will ask these questions to international students again, I made a list. 10 things to stop telling/asking an international student.
1. "Do you ride a yak/camel/elephant to school?’’
No, we don’t. We don’t ride animals to school. Do you ride a bison to school? I didn’t think so.
2. "Do they have cars/fries/Coke in your country?’’
Look, I get it, some things that are available in the U.S. are not available worldwide. I never had Hershey’s chocolate before coming to the U.S. But some things are just normal to have. Cars are a normal thing. So are Coke, fries, and really, most kinds of food. Honestly, sometimes the aspects of your culture that you hold close to yourself are also parts of our cultures, as well.
3. "Do they speak English in your country?’’
This question can go both ways, either you don’t know that my country has a native language besides English. Which, honestly, is quite stupid. Or you don’t realize that English is a global language, and that it is very common that at least a small percentage of people in each country speak English. Either way, don’t ask that question, you will look stupid.
4. "Say something in your language!’’
I am a person who is in this country to study, I am not here for your entertainment. Please don’t ask me to say something random in my language. If you are looking for a translation, I will give it to you. Right now, however, it sounds like you’re yelling at me, "Dance, monkey, dance!’’
5. "How did you get here?’’
By plane, that is how most people get here.
6. "So, where is your country?’’
I am not expecting you to have a perfect knowledge of geography, but at least know where things are. Yes, the Netherlands are in Europe, no, we are not a part of Scandinavia, and yes, we are next to the sea.
7. "Oh, I’ve been there, I’m basically an honorary [insert country name here].’’
You are not, you have probably spend three months at most there, you barely understand the difference between yes and no in my language. Don’t act like you are a one of us, I am not acting like I’m an American. Honestly, it can be insulting if you think that my entire childhood can be experienced in less than a year.
8. "Do you know about Christmas/New Year’s/Easter?’’
Of course, most countries don’t celebrate things like Christmas, or Easter. But to assume that we do not know about holidays from such a big religion makes it seem like every international student has been living under a rock all their lives. I celebrate Christmas, not in the same way Americans celebrate it, but it is still something that I am very much aware of culturally.
9. "Your accent is so funny!’’
Again, I am not here for your entertainment. I didn’t grow up speaking English, and even now that I live in a place where I have to speak English a lot, I still make mistakes. It is fine to correct me on my English, I am still learning and it is important that I know how things are pronounced. But there is a difference between correcting someone or going, "Haha, that’s not how you say that." Whenever you make fun of someone’s English, just remember, my accent comes from the fact that I speak more than one language. How many do you speak?
10. ‘’Oh you’re from [insert country name here]? I know someone from there, do you know [insert person’s name here]?’’
No, I don’t, do you know everyone that lives in Massachusetts? I didn’t think so.
