Attitude is everything

From North Island College

Coming to study in a new country, living with new people and making new friends is probably more challenging than getting good grades. When you feel comfortable with your new country, new family and have some new friends, you will be able to focus on your studies, and get the grades your parents are expecting!

But feeling comfortable is going to be hard work! There will be many differences from home. Food will look and taste different. People will dress differently. The bus system will work a different way. Even the buildings are different!

You will also find that people behave in ways that seem strange - they stand too close to you. Or they give lots of hugs. Or they say thank you a lot. More differences.

They may even think about time differently. If you're appointment is at 1pm they may arrive late. Or you may find that classes start exactly at the first of the hour rather than waiting for everyone to arrive. More differences.

And if that isn't enough, you may even find that they way the teachers are treated is different. The local students might call the teacher by his or her first name. Or they may just start talking in class without permission. Or they may even disagree with the teacher. The differences get more shocking every day!

So what is going on? It's all about culture - and the unwritten rules that guide the actions of the people that live in that culture. It takes some time for a newcomer to the culture to learn all the unwritten rules. It can be confusing and even upsetting if you don't know the rules.

So what can you do to learn these unwritten rules? Ask lots of questions - of your host family, teachers, classmates. Watch what people do and what they say. Keep an open mind - what they are doing is not wrong - its just different! And most of all, be patient with yourself. In time you will begin to understand!

Colleen Hanley, Coordinator International Education, North Island College
www.nic.bc.ca