From Different Cultures to New Beginings
by Shugey Loza
Classical music, idle chatter, and the smell of coffee; located in SS 164, the International Student Center is a hangout hub for both international and domestic students alike. According to ISC Supervisor Coe Lamoureux, the ISC helps its students obtain an F1 student visa, issued by the U.S. Government, so they can study in America. In addition, they provide support for transferring to a four-year college and introduce the various resources on campus to their students. The Citrus College ISC strives to nurture, encourage, and develop the dreams of international students while immersing them in the culture, adventure, and the community Citrus has to offer.
The most important thing when making a fun and safe place for international students is “welcoming them and making them feel at home,” ISC Counselor Anthony Giammalva said.
Many students often just go straight home after classes, but when struggling with homesickness or difficulty adjusting to a new culture it is so important to have a support system.
“Because a lot of these students come from thousands of miles away and they’re trying to make friends and build community,” Giammalva said.
The ISC encourages students to involve themselves in clubs, tutoring jobs, and other programs at Citrus. “That way they could feel more at home, more at ease, less homesick,” Giammalva said. The staff at the ISC have seen their fair share of students struggling with homesickness, language barriers, and interpersonal issues. They provide support to students by introducing them to resources provided by Citrus.
“We’re right next to the Mental Health Center,” International Student Technician Mary Mincer said. “I’ve definitely walked some students over there to schedule an appointment.”
The ISC hosts fun events every month both on and off campus including hiking, amusement parks, museums, beach trips, pool parties, and board game nights. These events foster a strong bond between the students both international and domestic. Mincer recalls a hiking trip two springs ago to Eaton Canyon where the river was knee-deep.
“We were having to help each other across in human chains and cross the river six or seven times one way,” Mincer said. “We saw this massive waterfall and then we had to go all the way back and by the end everyone became friends because you have to work together.”
They do their best to encourage student involvement in their events by planning activities that are adventurous, fun, and exciting. The ISC loves to celebrate holidays with their students by planning special events like Christmas Karaoke and Halloween Pumpkin Carving.
Eden Yang-
With her calm demeanor and sweet smile, Eden Yang, a student worker at the ISC is ready to assist students. Yang is a Canadian international student who moved to California seven years ago when she was still in high school.
Though California was her parent’s choice, Yang enjoys the sunny weather. Even living in the warmest part of Canada can get chilly. “Especially in winter, it’s gloomy,” she said. Citrus College was recommended to Yang by a high school teacher when originally she had planned to go to Pasadena City College. She was drawn in by the small class sizes and the promise of a smaller and less overwhelming community.
The only cultural difference she was able to notice were small things like how Canadians call restrooms “washrooms”. The transition from Canada to America was not difficult, but when Yang was young, she moved to Canada from China and found having to learn the language difficult.
“I was really young so I don’t remember most of it,” Yang said. “I just remember the difficulty communicating.” She can connect to her peers in this way.
Since arriving, Yang has been able to connect with other International students very easily. It helps to be able to speak the same language as a few of the students, but “even if we don’t speak the same language, just knowing that we’re from different countries, and we’re not really citizens here, it’s easier to bond,” she said.
Yang has made many friends at Citrus and has always felt very welcomed by those she has met on campus. She also feels that the events held at the ISC have made it easy to meet people and join in on the fun. “People are really friendly and encouraging,” Yang said. She now dedicates herself to being a part of that safe, welcoming culture that she has received within the ISC as a student worker.
Enkhjin Erdenebayar-
Enkhjin Erdenebayar first came to Citrus College in the spring of 2024 from Seattle where she had been studying previously. Originally from Mongolia, Erdenebayar came to the U.S. to pursue an economics degree. The college she went to in Seattle did not have an economics program which made Erdenebayar decide to leave. She left the perpetually rainy city and headed south to sunny California. Erdenebayar has yet to choose a career path, but she is very aware of the versatility in her field and is passionate about the major she has chosen for herself.
One of the most significant cultural differences Erdenebayar mentions is how friendly strangers are in America. It is not typical for people in Mongolia to greet strangers, but Erdenebayar has been greeted by many since coming to America.
Being from a small rural area, Erdenebayar found it hard to find a partner to help her practice her English. “That is one of the things I don’t miss at all,” Erdenebayar said.
In California, there is a melting pot of cultures, and that is evident when it comes to food. Many restaurants near Citrus serve Asian cuisine; however, Erdenebayar struggles to find authentic Mongolian food. “In Mongolia, the population is very small, so that’s why it’s very difficult to find Mongolian food here,” Erdenebayar said.
Being so close to the mountains, Erdenebayar enjoys hiking in her spare time. One of her favorite memories is a nature walk event that was held by the ISC.
When first moving from Mongolia to Seattle, Erdenebayar struggled being away from home for the first time. The longest she had been away before traveling was about a month, so moving to a different country all alone was a huge step. “It was difficult to concentrate on my studying and meet new people because I was too homesick,” she said. Being all alone in a gloomy city added to the depressing, heavy feelings of missing home, but since moving to Citrus, Erdenebayar has found many friends to keep her spirits up. “I made many friends from all over the world like China, Japan, and Korea,” Erdenebayar said.
When dealing with homesickness, Erdenebayar urges others to open up about their feelings and talk about their struggles. “Instead of staying at home crying or staying on your own, try to make new friends and talk to people,” she said.
Zannat Fardous-
Originally from Bangladesh, Zannat Fardous who goes by Iqra, has been at Citrus for a year and a half and expresses her admiration for the natural beauty of the campus. Fardous’ nickname, “Iqra,” is the first word revealed in the holy book, the Quran. “Iqra” translates to “read,” emphasizing the importance of knowledge and education in Islamic tradition. “My name has a very beautiful meaning,” Fardous said.
One of the main things that drew her in to Citrus was stories from her sister who had also been part of the program. She was told about the view of the mountains and the peaceful environment far from the busy city life. It became her dream to see it in person but since arriving at Citrus Fardous has made many friends from neighboring countries.
Fardous describes Bangladesh’s landscape as consisting of rivers, deltas, hills, and forests. “It has the world’s biggest mangrove forest named The Sundarban, and the world’s longest natural uninterrupted beach is Cox’s Bazar Beach in Bangladesh is the top tourist destination,” Fardous said.
One of the major differences between Bangladesh and America she noticed was the lack of formality in the culture and traditions. “Our customs emphasize family values, respect for elders, and hospitality,” Fardous said. Americans, in the way they dress, speak, and treat each other, are informal and individualistic. She points out a specific tradition in her country that she has noticed Americans do not have. “In our country guests are treated with great honor, and often served first during meals,” Fardous said. She sometimes still struggles with adjusting to the culture.
Once she transfers, Fardous plans to switch her major from math and physics to mechanical engineering following in her father’s footsteps. “I’d always be his helper,” Fardous said. Like many college students, she’s still exploring her career options and discovering more about herself before setting her plans in stone but expresses an interest in aerospace.
Adapting to a new culture can be difficult, especially when thousands of miles away from home. She found it difficult to focus due to the homesickness plaguing her. Being the youngest in her family, Fardous found that the impact of moving weighed on her heavily. Though her family supported her choice, she couldn’t help the fear and homesickness that came with being away from home. “It’s a kind of blessing to live with your parents or the people who really care for you,” Fardous said. She expresses the importance of maintaining a connection to her family, culture, and those who have shown their support. While building a life here and chasing the opportunities laid out for her, Fardous took up painting to cope with her homesickness.
Fardous’ advice to other international students who are struggling is to focus on all the new opportunities they are faced with. Grow as a person, grow academically, and grow through new connections. “Embrace the journey with kindness and an open heart,” Fardous said.
