ve and take midlands instead of one of the rustomary coastal cities. But an Oregonian's tales of the many wonders of this state lured him to PSU three years ago. Learning is "just a matter of oommunicating on a friendly basis," says Mussa, who credits his father for encouraging him to exptore other runtJres. "When I was young I wanted to be an air force pilot," he added pensively, "bIJt my father said, 'Wtrf do you want to bomb innocent people and families that you don't even know?" American students have the opportunity to increase their international awareness through the presence of foreign students. International students are often roore knowledgeable about world affairs than !heir American counterparts; they make a point of keeping up with home events while learning the American system and the interrelation of world events. A Palestinian student at PSU remarks that ''what happens in this country or the West Bank or any other country is signiflcant to !he future." On !he other hand, intemational students learn that a variety of peoples and lifestyles make up this country. They may discover American habits that are shocking, bIJt they may also find 1hemse1ves in positions to correct their countries' misoonceptions about America. Phoebe Yue, a Hong Kong native, has found "a lot of similarilies" between her Chinese runtJre and the American Iffestyte. The business major holds two strong impressions of Americans: "A good one and a bad one. Americans are friendly and etJlhusiastic, and !hey say what's on their mind. I like that. But (they're also) too proud. They think ff they know =rica !hey know everything," she Although she considers Americans friendly overall, Yue finds the culture less receptive to oornpanionship: "Back home !he neighbors leave !heir door open, and you just go into !heir house. Here you have to call and ask if you can rome visit." Vue's friend Victor Leo, a PSU student active on campus and known in the Portland Chinese community for his regular radio broadcast, feels Americans are "real concerned about privacy." However, he finds Americans bolder socially than he was accustomed to. "Like dancing," he said, but reserved further comment. Easing culture shock Most cultural adjustments a foreign student might have to make are eased through the Intemational Student Services department at PSU, with programs such as MorIng, holiday invitations and residence with host families. Taiwan student Jwu-Ylng Shao shares a bit of Chinese costume and history at an International Dinner hekllt PSU last February (above). As part of the Engllah-in-Actlon tutoring program, PSU employee B.rbara eeeker .nd .tudent Anne Marie James vlalt the PortI8Od Art Mu ..u m ("Vh'). The Friendship Family program joins a family who would like to provide holiday oompany with !he foreign student who would be alone on !he holidays. The Host Family program goes one step furtl1er by giving foreign students !he opportunity to develop ties with at least one American family and to learn the American rutture as it is being lived. "But we never have enough families," said Martinez. "Right now there are more than one hundred students who are waiting for a (host) family." The English-in-Action Moring program brings a volunteer Mor together with an international student for at least two one-hour sessions eech week. They wort< on English usage by "dlij-chatting" or making trips out into the community to srop, sightsee, or attend runural events. "It's an exchange of conversation with an American and a foreign student on a personal basis, and gives !he student the opportunity to know the community and PSU," e>q>alned Martinez. The ISS office serves also as a "public service" for the students, aooording to Ethel Whi1son, administrative assistant to Martinez. "We provide notary service; a lot of oountries are very bureaucratic ard need papers notarized !of a lot of different purposes. Sometimes we give oounseling on how to open bank aooounts or what to do if their money is lost. "We also get calls for translat"" or for speakers; !of example, a grade _ recently wanted someone to speak on the Middle East !of !heir seventh-graders. For some of the things we arrange we never hear the outoome, but we don't hear any oornplalnts, either," she added. Many international students also obtain a taste of responsibility and of I~e in Portland and on campus through student organizations and cultural dubs, which try to present a positive face to the community. Warnidh Shaalan, a business/computer science major from Iraq, is currently serving as president of the Organization of International Students. He has lived in Oregon for almost four years, and during the last two and a half years has resided with a host family. As 015 president, he planned and organized International Week at PSU last February, which was ''the most successful ever," according to Martinez. Shaalan was excited about the increase in American attendance over previous international functions. "Even Dr. Blumel and his family came," Shaalan satd. "The purpose of OIS is to get fofeign students together with American students," he added. In fact, his advice to all foreign students is "nat to fwe with someone who knows their language." 'There's no way to get by in school without knowing English," he continued. "It's very important, whether you're writing composition or studying political science or business. When you're sitting in class with other Americans the teachers have no time to help you i_ally, and speaking is imponant ff you want to a>rTlrn..lnicate with the teacher." Uving with an American family has given Shaalan "confidenc.... and "a lot of fun times," he laughed. '·1 consider !hem just like my second family." "I like to communicate with other nationalities and see other cultures," said Shaalan. "This is a very good opportunily for us to know about other cultures for when we go back." 11
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