By OLENA SADOVNIK
Contributing Writer
Starting a college life is challenging already, but it’s doubly challenging for students who are attending school abroad. Everything is new to them, from language and weather, to housing and opening bank accounts.
So in order to make the transition simpler, a group of international students decided to start an organization that was created specifically for students studying aboard.
“My sense of otherness made me ask myself what I can do with other international students to feel as at home, while away from home,” said Michaelle Mugisha, an MBA graduate student from Burundi.
Bearing this in mind, Mugisha found support among other students and faculty staff to start the St. Rose International Student Organization, which aims to help international students to succeed in both their academic and social lives during their studies. Mugisha is currently serving as president of the organization.
Compelling ideas, vibrant discussions, and lots of excitement were in the room on Wednesday. This was the atmosphere of the first general meeting of the ISO.
Most of the participants met each other for the first time, and they came to United States from over 30 countries with different cultural backgrounds. They have diverse interests and majors, but the Saint Rose experience is what unites them all. Currently, there are 120 international students at the College.
“In my home university in Riyad, everything was different—students’ attitude to studies, campus life and everyday life,” said Rayan Alshaia, an MBA undergraduate student from Saudi Arabia.
He came to the US in August 2013 as a transfer student and a fellow of the Saudi Arabian Cultural Commission.
“At home, students don’t really care about homework and classes,” Alshaia said. “It’s all messed up—cheating is widespread. I don’t like cheating. I believe in knowledge more than anything. That is why I like it here a lot.” He also wants to capitalize on his Saint Rose experience by participating in the ISO events.
Albany’s freezing temperatures became a real challenge for Maria Concepcion Iglesias, fellow of the International Leadership in Education Program from the Philippines.
“Where I come from, it’s warm and warmer. Here is so cold that you just to have bundle and bundle,” said Iglesias.
Back at home, Iglesias has been teaching English as a second language at the Narvacan National Central High School in Paratong for almost 10 years. She came out one of six out of over 100 applicants, selected through a series of highly competitive interviews to receive a grant from the U.S. International Research and Exchange Board.
Iglesias hopes to enhance her professional skills as a teacher and also looks forward to being an active member of the highly diversified ISO and larger Saint Rose community. “I am very glad I learned about this organization at the beginning of my program,” she said.
Gariba B. Abdul-Korah, associate professor of history and ISO faculty adviser, has spent a great part of his academic life as an international student in different countries, including Norway, Canada, and the United States. When his international students shared their concerns and stories, he encouraged them to think about establishing an international student body.
“My advice to the ISO members is to take the initiative seriously. It doesn’t only bring them together, but also serves as their mouthpiece in raising their grievances and concerns with the authorities,” said Gariba. He also emphasized on taking the academic seriously to avoid running into visa problems.
In addition to helping international students integrate into campus life, the ISO is committed to raising cultural awareness on campus and looks forward to cooperating with other clubs in a number of planned events such as language trivia, United Nation Model conference, and international dinner night.
“A trivia during the International Language Week has appealed to me the most from the agenda. I like languages. I want to take part in it,” said Weber Kaizer de Freitas, ILEP fellow from Brazil. He sees such events as a great opportunity for knowledge advancement.
While current foreign students pave the way for themselves on and around campus, Saint Rose plans to continue their recruitment campaign abroad.
“This spring I’ll be traveling to India and to several Persian Gulf countries, as well as to Canada,” said Colleen Flynn Thapalia, director of the International Recruitment and Admission Office.
Last year she visited several Latin American countries and took part in some online college fairs, which brought Saint Rose to the attention of students from all over the world, including African countries.
Thapalia elaborated that the College has been recruiting international students for many years, but it recently stepped up its efforts as part of an overall globalized approach, which includes sending U.S. students abroad as well.
“Everyone needs the skills to work and live effectively and comfortably across differences of language, culture, religion, etc.,” Thapalia said.
Thapalia, along with Andrea Haynes, director of the Office of Global and Field Studies, have been ardent advocates of the ISO establishment on campus. They helped with guiding the initiators of the group through a process of founding a new club on campus, while giving them confidence about ISO leadership.
“Michaelle Mugisha is a wonderful representative of the international student population. She started as an MBA ‘bridge’ student taking some undergraduate classes, before she undertook graduate-level classes studies,” Thapalia said. “So, she has a personal perspective on the needs of all students. In addition, she earned her undergraduate degree in India. Michaelle is a truly globally competent individual and sets a high standard in her academic work.”
The ISO first general meeting was a success, with a lot of events planned for the spring semester. The next meeting is scheduled for Feb. 7. For more information, visit the ISO’s group on Facebook: St Rose International Student Organization.
“Culture is an important part of our lives and is the way we view the world; that is why ISO is a place where Saint Rose community can experience different views of world and enjoy different cultures,” said Mugisha. “Join us, appreciate the world’s beauty that lies in its diversity right here on campus.”
