Johannes Pieles, currently studying at Fordham University, is a long way from home. You might think your friend's flight home to the West Coast is rough, but try having to suffer jetlag from a six-hour time difference every time you travel back home. Johannes is from a small town in Germany, just about four thousand miles from his dorm in New York.

Johannes Pieles

But Johannes isn't the only foreign student at the University. There are quite a few students who choose to leave their home countries to study in America. Fordham alone reports that international students make up about 15% of their student body. But why leave the comfort of your home country to study in a foreign place for four (or more) years?

The reasons vary. Some international students, similar to Americans who study abroad in Europe for a semester, simply want to experience a new way of living. Others take advantage of the unique opportunities an American education has to offer. For Johannes, he decided that studying in America could allow him to combine soccer and education in a way that Germany could not. Although education in Germany is free, German schools do not provide students who play sports with the ability to reach their athletic potential.

Johannes Pieles

Johannes came to America about three years ago to play soccer at Syracuse University. He transferred to Fordham last fall, starting his junior year as a Ram. He told me that he always considered coming to the United States for soccer and college. Before making the move, a friend of his from Germany went to America to study at Syracuse. This had some effect on his decision, as well.

The process of moving to America to pursue an education is far from simple. Those interested in studying in America must take an English placement test. Their scores determine whether or not you are accepted into the school. They also have to take the SAT or ACT. Additionally, in order to obtain a student visa, one must go to the American Embassy.

Moving across the world is not an easy transition. He tells me that the language was the biggest challenge he faced, which is hard to believe when hearing him speak today. Although he learned how to speak English in the third grade (back in Germany), when he first moved to America, he could understand the language but struggled with speaking; he hardly spoke the first two weeks. Johannes made friends quickly because of his soccer team, so forming bonds with Americans didn't really phase him. Plus, the Fordham soccer team is famous for its diversity— they have players from all over the globe. However, I'm sure meeting new people and getting acquainted with the American ways of life must pose a challenge to some international students, as well.

Johannes Pieles

I can't imagine how difficult it is for foreigners to get acquainted with American culture. As an athlete, Johannes had to get used to American sports, such as football and baseball, which aren't as popular back in Germany. One of the good things America has to offer, however, is a wide variety of food, which lessens the culture shock amongst foreigners. Johannes tells me that getting used to the food wasn't that difficult because "you don't always have to eat American food all the time". This is true; as an American born and raised, hamburgers and apple pies aren't the only things I eat. Regardless of where you're coming from, in America, you'll always be able to find food that you're comfortable with.

I was curious about the American customs and ways of living that foreigners have a particularly hard time getting used to. One thing Johannes will never get used to is how, in passing, Americans "will say 'hey, how are you?', but don't really expect an answer". Conversations between acquaintances are simply small talk, with little to no substance.

Missing home will always be a huge part of studying in a foreign county. Johannes makes the nine-hour flight home during his summer and winter vacations. He also tells me that many family members and friends have visited him here in America. In fact, a lot of his friends from Germany study in America, as well, which makes visits really convenient.

Johannes recommends that other soccer players in Germany look into moving to America to play and study. However, unlike German schools, American colleges and universities are extremely costly. This is why he stresses the importance of scholarships.

Johannes Pieles

When asked about his plans after graduation, he tells me that he would love to continue playing soccer, in either country. He likes America, but he definitely wants to move back to Germany eventually. We both had a laugh when he told me he "doesn't want to grow old here".

Even though his small German hometown was a huge contrast to the big city, he has become accustomed to his life here in America. He has become so comfortable that you wouldn't even guess he's an international student if you saw him walking around campus with his teammates. It makes me happy to hear about such a successful experience from an international student, and learning about how much goes into studying internationally only strengthens my admiration for them.