A home away from home for holidays

Some International students opt to stay on campus over break

By Kallie Leonard
Western Herald

Each year, Western Michigan University enrolls over 1,000 international students from 80 different countries around the world.

With the holiday season approaching, these international students must make a choice to either return home to visit their families, or to stay here at WMU and experience the holidays in a foreign country.

Although international students have the option to live off campus, many of them choose to live on campus in the residence halls. The fall semester ends Dec. 11 and the spring semester doesn’t begin until Jan. 5.
During this time the residence halls will be closed. They close this year at 7 p.m. on Dec. 12 and will not open until Jan. 4. This means all students living in the residence halls must return home.

For many international students, returning home during this break is not an option. The majority of WMU’s international students are from India, Japan, Malaysia and the People’s Republic of China. That isn’t exactly a quick trip home.

In this situation, WMU Residence Life will make an exception.

“International students have the option of living in the residence halls, although they do not necessarily live in their current rooms,” Lizze Fowler, a current Resident Assistant in Harvey Hall said.

Any international student in this situation would need to contact the Office of Residence Life.  This only applies to international students who cannot return home for the break. Residence life deals with each student on an individual basis to find the best place on campus for them to stay.

One International student from Malaysia, Suan Loong said he wouldn’t mind staying at WMU over the break.
“Christmas break is really short and I think I would not enjoy it much if I had to travel for 24 hours back home only to be there for 2 or 3 weeks,” Loong said.

Loong, 20, has lived in Malaysia his entire life, and recently moved to the United States at the beginning of this semester to finish his major in mechanical engineering at WMU. He will be here for the next two years.
Long said the thing he likes the most about WMU is that it is quiet here.

“I get to study more, and that is nice,” Long said.

So far, other than the cold weather he has no complaints about WMU.

Although there are many things to do here in Kalamazoo during the holiday season, Loong says there is much to be missed from home.

“I will miss my family and friends as well as the good food and nightlife!” Loong said.

Another international student from Malaysia, Zalikha Othman, 20, has also decided not to return home for winter break.

“It’s too soon for that!” said Othman. “I just got here!”

Othman is a first year journalism major. She chose to further her education here at WMU to gain independence and have the experience of living in a foreign country.

“I like the fact that you can choose various subjects you want to learn,” Othman said.  I didn’t have as many options before I came here.”

Although she has only been here for a short time, Othman likes WMU.

“I feel very welcomed,” she said.

Students and faculty alike have been very helpful to her.

“Everyone is very well‑mannered,” she said. “One of the habits that I have picked up from the locals is to always hold the door open for someone.”

As for her holiday plans, Othman will be traveling to New York to tour the city with friends. Although she is excited to visit the New York, she said she would miss her cat, her little sister and her friends from home.

Contrary to the feelings of many WMU students this time of year, Othman is really enjoying the winter weather.  Malaysia is a tropical country with rain and sunshine all year round, so the Michigan weather is new.

“I love it!” Othman said. “My goal before winter ends is to make my first snow angel and snowman!”

Victor Richards, 20, of the Dominican Republic is happy to be able to return home for the break to be with his family. This was his first semester at WMU and he is currently living in the residence halls.  Richards, an economics major, is here on a scholarship and plans to stay for the next four years.

Because the residence halls close on Dec. 12, and his flight isn’t until Dec. 13, Richards will be staying over night at the airport, but he doesn’t mind.

“My flight is early in the morning, and I am just excited to see my family for the holidays,” Richards said.

Short URL: http://www.westernherald.com/?p=2865

Posted by HeraldAdmin on Dec 7 2008. Filed under Campus, News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry

Cody Kimball
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