University of Wisconsin Stevens Point - Horizon / Iris Yearbook (Stevens Point, WI)

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A Foreign Student Reflects on Life at UWSP: A View by Charles Forkwa of Cameroon There are ono hundred and sixty foreign students at UWSP from thirty dilterent countries of Europe. Asia, Africa and South America, constituting 1.6 percent of the student population. The first foreign students arrived at UWSP as far back as 1961. and since then some sixty-eight countries have been represented Many traditional students, as well as people of the Stevens Point community, havo always been curious to learn about foreign students: where they come from; how they feel about being at UWSP and the United States as a whole; what thoy hope to do in the future — especially after their studies. These are but a few of the many questions oftentimes asked In the course of these interactions some of the myths about foreign lands are eliminated or clarified, and the foreign students themselves get to know Americans and their lifestylo at close quarters, thus also clarifying lots of unanswered questions they might have. Some of these questions, of course, can't be asked outright because so mo people are rather shy. Evontuaiiy. however, the questions are answered through various experiences At this point it would be appropriate to discuss in detail some of the important and educative questions posed by Americans and some of the answers foreign students give. The discussion will bo onesided since most of the questions asked are directed towards foreign students — also because before foreign students come to tho United States they already must have known a lot about this country. On the other hand, most of them have come to realize, from the questions often asked, that most Americans know little about overseas countries, especially if they happen to be weak and economically unimportant One question that a foreign studont is often asked is: How did you choose UWSP? Which goes further to ask — of all the famous, well known colleges and universities, how is it that you choso UWSP? For one thing, most foreign students who have lived in bigger cities in their home country try to avoid them when choosing institutions here; for another, some students know others that have gone to college here or that are currently doing so at the time of application. Yet for some it is a question of: I happened to havo applied and UWSP was the first college to admit me. The fact Is that most overseas countries have American Cultural Centors locatod in their larger cities and all necessary information about the United States can be obtained from them. Therefore almost any studont who intends to come to tho United States for turlhor sutdies has always found the Cultural Centers an invaluable asset Other often heard questions are: How do you like Stevens Point? The United Statos as a whole? Or. how do you like your stay here? These questions are great because thoy call for comparison And what group of people can answor thorn hotter than foreign students? Perhaps the answer that tops the list goes something like this: I liko Stevens Point, but I don't like the cold. This answor is most likely to bo given by o student from the tropics Even so. students from some European countries complain because their winters aro not as sovoro as those hero In tho aroa of student interaction with the community, most students who havo lived in other parts of this country think that Stevens Point people are much nicer and are easy to got along with. A third category of the questions gets into details like the situation In a student's country — political, economic, and social: the student's family situation; and one's ambitions and philosophies. The kind of person ono is can be portrayed in the answers, which is important for a better all-around understanding In closing, a look at some of tho experiences foreign students havo had: In the area of boyfriend girlfriend. some preliminary difficulties aro encountered mostly due to differences in approach, communication, and recognition. Those seeing snow for the first time find it is quite an experience. The freezing temperatures' Oh. that tool Last but not tho least is the remark: You hove an accent. where do you come from? Charles Forkwa is a senior at UWSP majoring In Soil Science and Roso urco Management He has worked as a contributing writer on HORIZON during the 1980-81 year Charles plans to return to his homeland. Cameroon. following graduation to pursue a career in agriculture 18

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1. Vllma Lopez of Nicaragua. 2. Taiwanese students perform at the International Dinner. 3. Elizabeth Belle and Martha Tanyt of Cameroon model attire from their homeland. 4. Students from Cameroon and Malaysia en)oy an evening at the International Dinnor. 19