About the Author
Christian Montesinos, JD
Director of International Programs and Services
Estimated reading time: 4 minutes
As I sat in my office thinking of what I would write about for this article as a representation of what International Programs and Services (IPS) does, I realized it is likely most of the campus community does not know what it is that we do. Sometimes even the international contingent of our University does not truly know what we do. Much like every other department within Student Affairs, IPS handles the day-to-day support of students. For us, however, our focus is international students. From immigration status, to employment, to roommate issues and how best to engage with the community—IPS handles it all.
Culture Shock is a Two-Way Street
When seeking a topic that wouldn’t be very dry, but instead a unifier of all of us, and something that we could all understand, I resolved at Culture Shock. I’m not talking about the culture shock of, you decide to finally…FINALLY, take that semester abroad and learn about a different place that you’ve only ever dreamt about (which you can do through IPS as well). Moreso, I mean the culture shock that happens when we don’t even know that it is happening—culture shock as it relates to domestic individuals when they encounter a foreigner. Afterall, culture shock is a two-way street.
Say you are in a British Literature class and the person next to you strikes up a conversation (you shouldn’t be talking in class, and I know you aren’t, but suspend belief for a second). You cannot handle any more talk about the Plantagenets, the Magna Carta and King Richard III—so you respond. And if that person is say, a first term international student from Ghana, there is a dynamic happening that you may not even be aware of—culture shock. While the student from Ghana is undoubtedly experiencing a much more traditional sense of culture shock in assimilating towards a new way of existing in this new world, you are also experiencing a type of culture shock if you have never encountered someone from Ghana or even a foreigner.
You are suddenly very nervous, straining to understand and capture every syllable of their accent and speech pattern. You are intrigued by their mannerisms, or maybe the use of some sort of traditional garb. At the same time, they are trying to figure out if it’s true that all Americans are in some way connected to the Jersey Shore. GTL.
How to Approach International Students
You see, while you are trying to dispel your own preconceived notions, so are they. This puts us at a beautiful impasse where curiosity lives and dialogue can thrive in.
I was in private practice as an Immigration attorney for almost 15 years and throughout my career I’ve been asked several times by domestic individuals, how to approach a foreigner.
What is a sensitive and appropriate way to ask questions? I have taken this information and asked foreigners myself—how do you want to be approached? What is a sensitive and appropriate way to ask questions? The answer is quite simple—just do it!—Nike.
What is a sensitive and appropriate way to ask questions? The answer is quite simple—just do it!
Fostering Dialogue and Personal Growth
Granted, do not approach a fellow student and start touching their hair or their hijab, BUT curiosity is important in breaking down these preconceived notions for both parties. Exchanges that dive into food, culture, clothing, beliefs and values will surprisingly render benefits that will diminish bias and help personal growth. In turn, you can dispel the notions that America isn’t all hot dogs, MTV and the Kardashians, but instead, show that we have a lot of similarities to other cultures—the value of community, the richness of hope and faith and the power of love and kin.
Just Do It: Your Curiosity is Key
This is what IPS does. While yes, most of our day-to-day is paperwork and student support in helping maintain legal and academic status, we also play an integral part in helping the international students gain the confidence to be curious themselves to help enrich their experience while at Michigan Tech. Just as we are cautious of asking questions, they are as well. While this notion seems quite simple in theory, in practice, as we all know, it is much more difficult. So the next time you are second guessing how to best approach an international student because you think it won’t be the most perfect way to do so, just do it! You might learn something you never thought you would and grow in ways that you never thought you could.