This was originally published in the 10/5/2010 "International Edition" of the MBAA newsletter. I wrote this with the intent of highlighting some of our amazing international students and to provide a small glimpse into what life for them, studying abroad, was like.
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| A map highlighting where our International Students' home countries |
In an ever “flattening” world brought together through technology and travel we will get the chance to encounter more of the world than we ever imagined. Our administration understands this, and not only provides us ways to travel abroad, but also welcomes students from all over the globe to come and experience our own unique culture. I interviewed several international students in an effort to learn their perspective on life at LSU.
Currently, there are students representing nine countries in the MBA program. (Bulgaria, Brasil, China, India, The Gambia, Jamaica, Jordan, Nigeria, and Spain). Most chose LSU because of scholarships offered, or through a family connection, such as a sibling who previously attended the University.
Some students have been in the States longer than others, nevertheless, adjusting to a new country and environment is not without challenge; most everyone cited family back home as one of the biggest elements missed, especially those from India, who stressed their strong value on closeness with their parents, whom they live with and care for their entire lives under a “joint family system.” Authentic versions of food are also sought after, “The local Chinese restaurants are very limited…We’ve driven 4 hours to Houston to get what we wanted to eat,” says Xiaoqian “Grace” Xu. “We have eight big food cuisines/categories,” states Yun Chai, “each of them is special.”
Most cite positive similarities to home and a welcoming spirit from the University which helped them adapt, “The emphasis on family and tradition in Louisiana is similar to home,” says Motilewa “Moti” Akerele, The food in Louisiana is also probably the closest I will get to home cooking in the US.” Arpitha Prakash agrees, “People are very helpful. To date, I have never encountered anyone giving me a cold shoulder when I have asked for help.” “The southern hospitality which is so evident at LSU, especially at tailgates, is very similar to India,” expresses Dheeraj Singireddy.
Indeed, when it came down to campus culture, everyone I spoke to enjoys the LSU football experience. Dheeraj continues, “Football quickly grew as one of my favorite sports…attending games with some of the most passionate fans in the country is like an honor for me.” Praveen Mudunuri relates, “[Like LSU Football] India [has] a similar craze for cricket, which is like a religion in India.” This favorite part of life in Louisiana is unfortunately temporary though, as put by Julius Gloeckner, “Football weekends, proximity of friends, and the college lifestyle is unfortunately going to change in 8 months.”
After graduation, plans for most students depend on the opportunities presented to them in the job market. Most express a desire to ultimately return back to their home country and use the skills they’ve acquired to establish businesses, or work in the financial sector. There’s also a desire to one day reciprocate their positive experiences, “I had nothing but good experiences throughout my stay here and would love to return the same treatment if any of my colleagues would choose to come to my country in future,” says Dheeraj. Julius concurs, “If you ever come to Freiburg Germany, give me a call, I can tell you where to eat and drink like a king,”
Maintaining a thriving diverse culture within LSU and the MBA program is both beneficial and enriching. It cannot be taken for granted; however and we must constantly work to better understand differences and help others adjust to their new environment. Grace gives some advice to incoming students facing uncertainty:
“You may feel that life is too different and so tough when you are not familiar with here. However, after one semester, you will fall in love with the life
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