International students warm up to Marquette, Milwaukee
Although it may seem like the majority of Marquette students come from the Midwest, the student body is more diverse than some may think. From Ghana to Kuwait, Burma to India, students from all over the globe attend school in Milwaukee.
According to Ellen Blauw, associate director of International Students and Scholars Services at Marquette, about 500 international students currently attend the university.
Vincent Ong, a junior in the College of Business Administration, was initially surprised by college life when he arrived in Milwaukee from his home in the Philippines.
“Honestly, I was expecting college life in the U.S. to be like the movies or TV,” Ong said. “I quickly found out that what they show in the media is very different from real life.”
Phyu Thwe, a senior in the College of Health Sciences, said that when she came to Milwaukee from Burma, she “expected students (to be) so friendly and welcoming to foreigners.” But for Thwe, this wasn’t the case.
“I didn’t have any friends other than a couple of international student friends who transferred here like me,” Thwe said.
As time progressed, however, Thwe said she felt some of her classmates began to accept her as their friend.
Vaanchhita Bhatia, a junior in the College of Health Sciences, found students to be extremely curious about her life in New Delhi, India.
“I had people asking me the weird, yet funny questions, like ‘Is India a small village in Egypt?’ or ‘Are there roads in India?’ ” Bhatia said.
Anthony Purgianto, a senior in the College Health Sciences, said that when he moved to Milwaukee from Indonesia, he felt students viewed him differently during the first few months.
“But now they (can) barely tell if I (am an) American,” Purgianto said.
Blauw said the Office of International Education offers mentoring programs for international students to help them adjust. The office also offers advising and counseling for international students during their years at Marquette.
“We really stay with the student from the point of admission though their graduation,” Blauw said.
Yousif Bouftain, a sophomore in the College of Engineering, said that when he arrived at Marquette from Kuwait, he was “so confused.”
“(A student) told me to go to the Office of International Education,” Bouftain said. “I went there, and they were really welcoming and helpful.”
For Oppong Agyemang, a junior in the College of Engineering from Ghana, the OIE prompted his decision to attend Marquette.
“My relationship with OIE was the determining factor because, unlike many students, I never had the chance to come for a college visit,” Agyemang said.
International students attend an orientation session held a few days before New Student and Family Orientation, which aims to help them adjust to life in Milwaukee.
“The program gives them time to look around, and we let them know what resources are here,” Blauw said.
Aside from peer mentoring programs and advising, the office in the AMU offers many resources, including a prayer room, lounge, meeting room and kitchen for student use.
Thwe finds the OIE to be a comfortable and familiar place for her to go.
“Sometimes when the OIE needs volunteers, I just go there and help,” she said.
Freshmen and sophomore international students are also required to live in residence halls with their peers, which helps them to “adjust and meet friends,” Blauw said.
“I met my best friend freshman year in Abbottsford,” Agyemang said. “And I (am) still very close with almost all the guys from my floor.”
For some students, though, adjustment and culture shock wasn’t a big issue. Jayne Grebinski, a senior in the College of Business Administration, said moving from Canada to Milwaukee didn’t require much of an adjustment.
“Even though I am far from home, the culture of the Midwest is very similar to the culture of western Canada,” Grebinski said.
She still, however, recognizes the benefits of being an international student. “I think teachers appreciate the fact that I am from another country, especially in my international classes, because I can provide examples of cultural differences,” Grebinski said. “And it gives them the chance to bring up some good Canadian jokes.”
Marquette’s Catholic, Jesuit environment is also something many of the international students value.
“I’m a Hindu and, honestly, it doesn’t bother me being in a Catholic University,” said Bhatia. “I love reading and experiencing different cultures, so I think Marquette is definitely a very good choice.”
Agyemang also felt attending Marquette was a good decision.
“I want to go back home someday and help my country with my (engineering) skills,” he said. “I feel like I am here for a reason and would not change the situation if I had the chance.”
Tags: college, culture, education, international students, marquette, milwaukee, OIE
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