- Published: January 1, 2022
- Updated: January 1, 2022
- University / College: Cornell University
- Level: Doctor of Philosophy
- Language: English
- Downloads: 27
BORDER CROSSING: ADVICE TO INTERNATIONAL WOMEN IN THE U. S. A By Date
Border Crossing: Advice to International Women Students in the U. S. A
Most international women desire to study in the United States because of the prestigious learning institutions and the enticing social life. However, any person may have doubts concerning staying in a country far away from home country. People, especially young women, thus need advice from those who have experienced life in the country of destination. Dongxiao Qin conducted an interview with six Chinese women concerning their individual “ border-crossing” experience in the United States (Dongxiao, 2009). Although student’s life in the U. S. is full of an exciting experience, a person should hold on to her culture and values to avoid being carried away.
According to one of the Chinese women, studying in the U. S. is good as it exposes a person to the rest of the world. In addition, staying in America enables one to live freely according her personality (Dongxiao, 2009). The young woman believes that her life is simple in U. S. since the country gives her room to do her things and explore life freely without many restrictions. However, she asserts that life can be very boring and lonely to someone who is not actively participating in social life. Thus, for students who are not very open or sociable, she advises that they should better not consider studying in the United States. According to the Chinese student, being socially active in the U. S. goes a great way in helping a person to know others. As there are many people from many countries of the world, remaining active helps someone to get a touch of different nationalities in the same land.
Another Chinese woman asserts that although the educational system in the U. S. is enticing, prospective foreign students need to be Christians (Dongxiao, 2009). She says that without a strong Christian background, people tend to feel lost in the foreign country. A person may lose connections with her native country and end up becoming confused or engage in illicit behaviors. As earlier said, the U. S. learning institutions consist of people from many countries that come to seek quality education. Additionally, living away from home tends to give a student freedom to do what she pleases. Thus, the many cultures clustered together coupled with much freedom, can confuse a person who lacks a strong rooting in her beliefs. The Chinese student believes that Christianity enables a person to find peace in the land of confusion. A person will better handle any inevitable difficulties.
According to (Dongxiao, 2009), the advice from the two girls gives a glimpse of their perceptions concerning their border-crossing experiences. The experience was a revelation that deepened their understanding of the host culture and connected them to the different people. The border crossing process also facilitates Chinese women to understand better and appreciate their culture of origin while fully developing in the new land. An expanded sense of self, which is rewoven in a broader cross-cultural perspective, will help foreign students to handle challenging student life.
Women International students in the United States may find life to be full of exciting experiences and freedom away from home. Students can explore the vast cultures in one place and fully develop the way in which they perceive the world. However, a person may end up being alienated if she disowns or lacks roots in her culture. Thus, a prospective, foreign student should always be conscious of herself and values for her to have a stable ground from which she can explore the richness of life in the U. S.
References
Dongxiao Q, 2009, Crossing Borders: International Women Students in American Higher Education, University Press of America, Lanham.