International Students Adjust to Life at Marist

International student Ananya Andrade ‘26 sits on the Marist green. Photo by Ananya Andrade ‘28.

What is known as the “college experience” is unique to every student. Particularly, international students experience cultural differences and homesickness, which contrast with the routines of their American peers. There are differences in the food, culture, climate and schedule.

“There was a massive culture shock when I got to New York. The first thing was the weather, which was a huge difference,” said Ananya Andrade ‘28, an international student from India. 

Besides the weather, Andrade had trouble adapting to the American culture at Marist University. 

“When I came to the U.S, it was monsoon season back at home, and this is something so simple, but the way rain smells is so different, and I feel homesick a lot when it rains. But apart from that, I feel that the sense of community is not the same in the U.S. It was difficult to find friends with the same value system that I had,” she said.

While American students are adjusting to college life and feeling homesick, international students feel an extra sense of homesickness as they are adapting to the culture shock of being in a different country, not only a different school.

“I remember bringing spices to the dining hall freshman year because the food was bland. I really missed small things, like home-cooked meals,” said Andrade.

Students believe it is important to step into the shoes of international students by traveling abroad. 

“I definitely plan on going abroad this summer because I want to see other countries,” said Kai Voris ‘29 from New Jersey. “It would be a cool experience to understand the lives of others who do not live a similar life to me,” said Voris.