International Student in the United

¶ … international student in the United States and ever since I have come here, I have seen cultural differences and communication difficulties. Life here is very different than back home where I was not an outsider - not an alien. Not all people are alike here but I have had my share of experiences and I have tried to deal with them in the best possible way. Experiences always mold a person's character and thoughts and so did mine. It was my wish and dream to go abroad to the United States and although my peers were happy and satisfied staying back home, my personality that loves to face challenges made the need to go abroad and take challenges in a different environment even more stronger.

A faced increasing opposition to my decision of going to the United States from my family and relatives. They were afraid to send me abroad all by myself, thinking that something would happen to me or wondering how I would be able to spend time in a country thousands of miles away. To them I was still a young child who was not yet able to take care of himself. Sometimes I would wonder if they would ever realize that I am a grown up and can take ample care of myself. I was ready to be independent and to survive on my own. I wanted to face that challenge and wanted to know how it is out there where I would be able to live in a diverse cultural environment and would be able to achieve good education. Unfortunately my family was not prepared to let me face the challenges that I so desired to. I knew that this was my only chance to convince them to let me study in the United States. My first challenge was to convince my parents and relatives that I am ready to fulfill my desires and to face new challenges in life. It was the time to show them that I can deal with situations on my own. So my plan was put into action and I started studying really hard in school to get good grades. I also wrote a letter for my family where I listed all the reasons due to which I wanted to go abroad. It was my stubborn personality against theirs; clash of the titans. One side had to lose, either me or them and I wanted to be sure it was not me. I persuaded them and made it a point not to budge from my position.

Eventually with the grace of God Almighty, my stubbornness proved to be much stronger and persistent than their and they realized that their young child was not a child anymore and had the capacity and the will to face new challenges head-on. Soon my journey started and I moved to the United States to study. My aim was to receive the best education money can provide and to face new challenges. This event that occurred in my life helped mold me in many ways. It has polished my character and my thoughts. At first I did not realize it but today as I sit back in my chair and think about the past I know it helped me a lot and prepared me regarding what I was about to face. In my school I was a new face and clearly there was a huge cultural difference between me and the local students there. First couple of months I did not have any friends except for Mark, a Chinese whose family was living in the United States for a very long time. Mark was a nice person in whom I could see the loss of his cultural heritage occurring. My culture was very dear to me and I did not want to lose it. It principles and values were close to my heart and I would never lose them no matter what. I knew that if I am stubborn and I cling onto my desires then if I could get my way around with my over possessive family, I could get my way with anything in the world. As time passed by and I got to know other people, the peer pressure increased and the pull towards a different culture intensified. I recalled the time when my family was giving me a strong opposition to my idea of studying abroad, and how I stuck by what I considered to be important to me. I was not going to let go and I did not although I feared isolation if I did not do what the others did. However not letting go of my principles paid off and people around me realized that I was what I am and I would never give in to what others want me to do and will always stick around and do what I desire to do.