As an international student I can say with confidence that the past year at college has been a phenomenal experience.I have learned so much about people and places I’ve never heard of and been to places I'd only seen in movies. However, it's not always fun and games when you are not in college in your home country. Some people think the only obstacle of being an international student is the language barrier but there are so many more trials and tribulations of everyday international living.

1. When no one knows where your home country is.

Yes, I am From Ghana. Yes, that is in Africa. No, that is not near South Africa. Nope, not near Egypt either.

2. Trying to find a good time to call home with a four – 12 hour time difference.

“Hi mom, I’ll call you after my 4 p.m. class” “Oh wait, never mind, that will be 11 p.m. your time” “How about …?” “Too early?” After a three day long game of phone tag, eventually you just resolve to one of you waking up at an ungodly hour just to hear each other's voice.

3. Not being able to go home for less than three week-long breaks because plane tickets cost an arm, a leg and a year’s worth of tuition.

Nothing is more fun than being the only one on campus when everyone is home for Thanksgiving.

4. When your friends plan spontaneous trips to Canada.

It’s a collegian’s dream to be able to drive off to wherever they please for a weekend getaway. However for us international students, if said trip goes anywhere near a border we need at least two weeks’ notice; you know to get a visa, fill paperwork and such. Spontaneity of travel is not a thing in our lives.

5. When no one can pronounce your name correctly.

6. “Wait what did you just say?”

Yes, believe it or not, I did just say that word. And no, it does not sound exactly how you pronounce it. Just like British and American English have different nuances in pronunciation, so does every other country that speaks English. It doesn’t mean either way is right or wrong.

7. When people assume you know everyone from the same country as you.

“Do you know him? He went to my high school and he’s from Ghana too. No? How do you not know him?” It's just like me asking “Hey, do you know John Smith, he’s American too.”

8. When people assume stereotypes are real.

Believe it or not, we do have [insert generic infrastructure, food or location] in Africa.

9. “Did I bring my I-90?”

There is nothing scarier than walking through the immigration lounge, not knowing whether you have the third sheet of the 37 pages of paperwork you need to get through immigration and customs. The struggle continues throughout the year as you need a copy of EVERY.SINGLE.SHEET. to fill in any type of form.

10. Being homesick.

If you think it is hard being away from home, even though you are in the same country, imagine how it would feel if there were thousands of miles, and a huge pond, between you and your family.

That all being said, you may not be able to relate to any of these or may think they are trivial, but it’s the little things that make life hard sometimes. So feel free to give an extra smile or hug to your international classmates and friends whenever you can, it makes all the struggles of being here worth it.