Adventures in adjusting

Michelle Garzaro, an international student from Guatemala who received her master's degree this spring, shares her thoughts about her studies in the United States. Her advice about becoming accustomed to a different country could help any alumnus getting used to life away from home.

By Michelle Garzaro

When I first knew that I got a Fulbright scholarship to study in the United States, I could not contain my happiness. Kissing goodbye to my family and friends was tough, but I was excited to face the new experience. When I took my baggage, I not only carried my clothes with me but also my dreams and a bunch of hopes. But what I forgot to include was the knowledge that adjusting to a new environment would be as hard as getting the scholarship.

Although I have been in some other countries before for vacation, coming to the United States was my first opportunity to test my independence and my ability to cope with daily problems alone! Many surprises were waiting for me.

The first shock was to hear many people ask, "Where is Guatemala?" "Is it an island?" "Is it in Asia?" No way! Guatemala and the United States are separated by just one country. At that time, I realized that we were so close to the States physically but at the same time too far.

The following weeks proved what I just had found out. To begin with, language was a barrier not only in interacting with people but also in learning more about the culture of my host country. Local idioms, accents and the rate of speech gave me a hard time. In addition, I had to deal with housing issues, registration forms, classes, bank papers and looking for a more convenient phone card to call my family in Guatemala. There was so little time to make new friends.

As a result, feelings of isolation, fear, confusion, disorientation, depression and a sense of loneliness came into my life. Facing all these feelings plus adjusting to a new life caused me stress. Having little interaction with people aggravated the problem. For a moment, I felt as if a magic force pulled me out of my world and dropped me down in the middle of nowhere. Even worse, I felt as if no one cared about my feelings and that my needs meant nothing to anybody.

Fortunately, those feelings did not last too long. When the surroundings became familiar and I made many new friends, I became totally adapted and happy in my new environment. How did it happen? Time helped a lot, but I was the only one who could decide to stop that situation and enjoy my new setting.

After a while, I learned that I was not the only one who had to struggle with those hard feelings. At this moment, there is someone else who is dealing with the process of adjusting. If you are going through a similar situation, these suggestions might help:     

• Take your time. Adjusting to a new life in another country takes time, so do not expect to solve all your problems at once. At the beginning you might get lost and confused, but you will get familiar with your city and you will even learn some tricks to use your money wisely. 
  
• Do not isolate yourself. Ask for help if you need it. There are many people who will be more than happy to help you. If you remain quiet, everybody will think that you are OK.
  
• Attend a religious group. When I first came to Athens, I looked in the phone book to find a church that best fit my beliefs and I joined it. I not only feel part of a group, but I also found support and help.
  
• Join a student organization. You can ask for the list of organizations at your school. By getting involved, you can interact with people who share your same culture and interests.
  
• Eat, sleep and exercise properly. Do not skip breakfast, and try to have a good meal for lunch. By doing so, and by sleeping at least seven hours a day, you will have the energy you need to face a new day and to successfully perform in classes. Your body also needs to stretch and exercise frequently.
  
• Do not be afraid to look for professional help. If you think you cannot cope with your feelings, look for a counseling service at your school. You will be surprised to realize that you are not the only one in this kind of situation. Other students have not only survived but also enjoyed their time as visitors. Counselors are professional, and they are eager to help you.

When the time to go back home comes, you will laugh about the hard time you had in adjusting to the new environment. And if you are like me, you might even feel so identified with the new place that you may resist leaving it.

I will graduate in June, and mixed feelings have come to me. I am excited to go back home and live with my family again, and I also want to chat with my friends as I did before. But on the other hand, I do not want to say goodbye to my new friends, those who gave their best advice and comforted me when I felt down. I do not want to say goodbye to Athens, the little town that sheltered me for more than two years and gave me natural sceneries -- such as leaves falling in autumn and the white rooftops in winter -- that I had never seen before.

To accept that my time in Athens is about to be over is as hard as it was to adjust to it. To comfort myself, I remember the words that my elder sister told me once: "When someone is telling you goodbye, someone else is ready to tell you welcome."

Related link:

Additional information for prospective international students is available from the Office of International Students and Faculty Services.