Transition from an Outsider to an Insider
Deciding to come to West Virginia felt very hard and unpredictable, as it literally changed the course of my life. My familiarity and past experience with the American system played a role in my integration when I came to the United State. I transferred here at WVU on my sophomore year after completing most of my pre-major courses at an Accredited International University based on the American model. This past experience easily adjusted to the educational aspect here at WVU.
When I moved to WVU, I felt concerned with my ability to socialize with everyone around me. I hoped people would try to know the true me instead of placing me within a category of people just because of what my first name sounded like. In time, I noticed that the unfamiliar nature of my name would make the difference in the kind of treatment received. Instead, I decided to stay positive, put all these cliché aside and focus on the different stages of my group formation and what came along with it.
When I first moved to WVU, I resolved to meet with international students to help me socialize. By getting to know them better, I avoided isolation, and it introduced me to new cultures along with people from all around the world. The University particular presence in Morgantown allow small businesses to thrive in such a small community, which includes the thousands of international students, and therefore contributes to the economic expansion of Morgantown throughout the years.
Following my first semester, I started to get used to the local life style, which somehow helped me overcome this cultural shock that I definitely considered to be a huge barrier when I first moved here to West Virginia. I struggled to acclimate to a completely different culture, which I also considered to be different from the American one I needed to adapt to. However, at some point after almost a year, I realized that my options seemed very limited. I urged to find out some way to get to know more people, get integrated
When I moved to WVU, I felt concerned with my ability to socialize with everyone around me. I hoped people would try to know the true me instead of placing me within a category of people just because of what my first name sounded like. In time, I noticed that the unfamiliar nature of my name would make the difference in the kind of treatment received. Instead, I decided to stay positive, put all these cliché aside and focus on the different stages of my group formation and what came along with it.
When I first moved to WVU, I resolved to meet with international students to help me socialize. By getting to know them better, I avoided isolation, and it introduced me to new cultures along with people from all around the world. The University particular presence in Morgantown allow small businesses to thrive in such a small community, which includes the thousands of international students, and therefore contributes to the economic expansion of Morgantown throughout the years.
Following my first semester, I started to get used to the local life style, which somehow helped me overcome this cultural shock that I definitely considered to be a huge barrier when I first moved here to West Virginia. I struggled to acclimate to a completely different culture, which I also considered to be different from the American one I needed to adapt to. However, at some point after almost a year, I realized that my options seemed very limited. I urged to find out some way to get to know more people, get integrated