Welcome week is approaching fast, and this means that you (along with thousands of other international students) are packing up and getting ready to fly to the United States to begin your new life here as a student. You're probably super excited and you absolutely cannot wait to leave your country and arrive finally. If you're like the majority of international students in America, you're probably making this trip alone and you're really loving this new found independence. You think you are ready for college, and you probably are but nothing can ever prepare you well enough for the scariest parts of living as an international student in the United States. Here are 5 questions that are guaranteed to make your heart drop to your feet during the time you'll spend here:
1. Where is your I-20?
Along with your passport and your immunization forms, your I-20 is one of the most important documents and you cannot afford to lose it anywhere. This is why the best way to make an international student jump is to randomly ask them where their I-20 is. It invokes a certain terror unlike any other.
2. What are your Thanksgiving plans?
Thanksgiving? What the heck is Thanksgiving? Another holiday? I thought it was just Labor Day! And then Halloween! Oh God what do I do? Yes, Thanksgiving will creep up on you faster than you can say 'November' and you have to make plans or else you will be that person who stays back on the eerie campus and eats cold turkey slices from the cafeteria. Be prepared.
3. How is W-A-T-E-R pronounced?
In a few months, you will be shocked at the very sound of your voice. Who is this person and why do their Ts sound like Ds. Water is a popular word that will make you be absolutely terrified of not recognizing your own voice. You will be utterly amazed by what you sound like in just a few months if you don't constantly work on keeping your accent (if you want).
4. How much does that cost?
Depending on where you come from, buying a bottle of water can either be a cause to throw a party or make you cry deep into the night. Either way, you'll be pretty shocked at the price of things in the United States especially if you are in the habit of converting between currencies. It may scare you the first few times but you get used to it fast.
5. When was your mom's birthday again?
Time difference will be a big one for you, especially if it is more than 4 hours from your home country. You have to be Einstein to remember to send a birthday message to your mom on time before you have to deal with her wrath. Time difference also means that you would have to be up at really odd times if you want to catch people at home before they go to bed.
To all international students, I say take it easy and best of luck. You're going to need it.
