International students experience U.S. culture

By Andrea Engle
Editor

This year, with record domestic student enrollment, there is also record enrollment among international students. There are currently about 100 students from other countries, and that number is still growing according to David Arredondo, director of International Student Services.

“This is the largest group of incoming international students than before,” said Arredondo.

The number of Chinese students enrolled is at its highest ever, and there is even a Chinese professor teaching at the college right now. The program between Chang Sha University and LCCC is in its sixth year and the exchange of professors has been going on for 3 years.

In addition to the Chinese students, there are currently seven students from Egypt studying here. They are here though a program called the Community College Initiative Program. As Muslims, the students from Egypt are required to pray five times a day, so there has been a special room set aside for them and anyone else who wants to pray or meditate on campus.

The room is in the Learning Center room 107. Alhassan Omran, one such student, was quick to say that studying is America is completely different from studying in Egypt. In Egypt, they only take one test over the semester and they do not have homework or quizzes; they only get one shot. They also attend fall, winter and spring courses,  only breaking for summer.

Much like the Egyptian students, there is a Romanian student Anamaria Balea, who has also said studying in America is completely different from studying in Romania.

“People are always smiling, always kinds and always want to help. In Romania the teachers do not treat students with respect they treat them as if they are superior to their students,” said Balea “Teachers are different, teachers are like you, they are like normal people. They take their time to help you whenever they can.”

Balea stated that she has always wanted to come to America to study since her aunt came over here when she was little. She never thought that she would come to America until one day her roommate decided that she
was coming to America.

“My desk mate said she is going to America for college, so I talked to my aunt and she agreed that she would support me,” said Balea. “I searched the Internet and now I am at LCCC.”

Along with school, the international students try to do some site seeing around the US. Ormran plans to take a trip to New Hampshire, Chicago, or California for learning purposes over winter vacation. Balea said that in her free time away from school she really loves having the lake so close. Since Balea is studying here for three years, she hopes to take a trip to Las Vegas after she turns 21.

There are also four new students this year from the University of Sivor, in France. This is the 11th year since a partnership began between the university and LCCC that allows any French student to come here or any American student to study in France.

In total, there are 16 new exchange students that will pursue a degree in English as a Second Language or an associate degree. There are between 40-45 returning international students that are studying for their associate degrees. The majority of the students are going for an Associate degree in Applied Science or planning to transfer to a four year university.

Most of the students are going to be here for either one year or one semester and are trying to get involved and see all of America and learn everything that they can about this country.