I came to Hong Kong to find out more about my parents’ culture, since Hong Kong is a mecca of Chinese people. I thought being here would give me a greater understanding of my parents and how they became the people they are. However, the three short weeks I have been here has taught me more about a different group of people – more than it’s taught me about my parents.

It has taught me about the international students on the ISU campus.

I used to think I had some sort of an idea about them, but it turns out that I was actually pretty clueless as to what goes through their minds compared to what my experiences have taught me.

For instance, I figured international students get homesick but I didn’t know the definition of homesick until I stepped foot on The Chinese University of Hong Kong. I was unaware of how overwhelming it is to be in a completely different country where the culture is very different, the common language is not my first language and I can’t just turn around and go back home.

When I stepped out of my taxi and took a look around, nothing looked even remotely familiar.

I just wanted to get back into the taxi, go back to the airport and go home to the familiar gentle hills and fields of corn in Iowa, something I never thought I would wish so hard for.

I was instantly homesick, missing all of the people I left behind, and more importantly, for all the things that I considered.

Of course, I stuck it out. I eventually met a lot of international students, mostly from North America, and we stay in big groups for most of the time. I am pretty sure it is intimidating to the other students on campus to see such a large group of Americans running around in large groups speaking English.

After all, it was kind of awkward for me to be around groups of international students speaking a language that I couldn’t understand at Iowa State. Even though on the ISU campus I sort of understood why international students liked to hang out with each other and talk in their native language, now I identify with their actions.

It simply brings them a little closer to the place they miss so much, their home. It is also reassuring to be around other people with the same background and language.

These groups are merely a home away from home.

It is also nice to be able to speak to other people without having to be nervous about what you are saying.

I know that over here, I feel big butterflies flapping about in my stomach right before I say “m-ghoi” to the person next to me. All I am doing is saying “excuse me,” which is such a simple phrase. Yet, it makes me feel so nervous to say it to a native speaker of Cantonese.

In the back of my head there is always a little voice asking me if I am saying it right and assuring me that the other person either did not understand or is snickering on the inside about my horrible American accent. Before I never thought about how nervous many international students probably feel about speaking in a language that is second to their native tongue.

It takes a large amount of courage to leave that security blanket called home to go to a place that is completely different and live there for more than three months.

But students do more than just live in a place for five months, though.

They also have to study and keep up with classes, all while adjusting to a different culture and environment.

I am not proclaiming to be an expert on international students or how international students feel, but studying abroad has given me a little more insight on what many of these students must feel. Knowing this, I have much more respect for international students on the ISU campus.

Ariel Ringlein is a junior in management from Guthrie Center. She is in Hong Kong for the semester as part of the ISU Study Abroad program.