Problems of An International Student

Anirudha Dasgupta
ENGL 4081
Dr. Mary Adams
ISSUES FACED BY INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
Almost
Esmeralda
woman
Santiago.
is
It
an
is
autobiographical
the
story
of
novel
how
young
written
by
Esmeralda
migrated with her mother, brother and sister to New York for her
brother's treatment and to live a better life. It is the story
of
young
13
year
old
girl's
struggle
to
adjust
to
the
difference between her life in a small village called Macun in

Puerto Rico and her life in the world's largest metropolis - New
York. It is the story of a Hispanic girl, trying to learn a new
language to be able to communicate and be successful in school.
It is the story of young girl, who on one hand enjoys the
freedom of New York yet misses her home, her father and her
village in Puerto Rico. Finally, it's the story of a girl who,
with her immense determination, overcomes all the hurdles and
becomes successful. In short, its the story of many migrants
who come to the United States to achieve a better life. Many of
these migrants are International students like me and we face
the same issues, Esmeralda faces in the novel. The issues of

adjusting to a new culture, learning a new language, getting
used to the new found freedom and most importantly getting used
to being away from home. Like, Esmeralda, I came to the United
States
when
was
in
my
teens,
and
found
myself
in
completely different culture than the one I am used to, back

home. Like Esmeralda, I had to learn English to study in college.
Like Esmeralda, I enjoyed the new found freedom yet craved to go
back home. If an International student decides to write a book,
he or she would have quite a similar story to Esmeralda Santiago.
One of the biggest issue faced by Esmeralda when she first

moved to Brooklyn, New York was to learn a new language. She was
a
Hispanic
with
very
limited
knowledge
of
English
but
to
become successful or even to survive in the United States, she

had to learn English. The language barrier is a big issue faced
by many International students who are not from English speaking
countries.
In
"Understanding
the
International
student
experience", C. Montgomerie states that,

" Language is an element which is highly significant in
ones interaction and closeness with other people we come
in contact with. It is a way in which people can easily
express themselves and it construct ones identity easily.
The use of language can affect the way others are being
observed and lack of language proficiency could cause lack
of understanding."
Authors, Y. Zang and Y. Mi published a Journal called "Another
look at the language difficulties of an International students"
where they state that,
"Language
difficulties
in
listening,
speaking,
reading,
writing and understanding are mostly common and the most

urgent in the academic and social life of international
students".
As Esmeralda found out that her first step towards success in
school and outside is learning English, and she developed her
own
version
of
International
English
student
which
have
she
to
calls
learn
"Spanglish",
English
too,
every
to
be
successful in the United States of America.
Another big issue that migrants and International students

face is culture shock. Most of the time, the cultural difference
between
their
overwhelms
own
most
countries
and
International
that
students.
of
the
United
Esmeralda
States
faces
this
problem when she moves to Brooklyn from her rural surroundings.

She
struggles
to
maintain
balance
between
Americanizing
herself and maintaining her true identity as a Puerto Rican. She

battles between two different personalities - the one of Negi,
the subservient Puerto Rican daughter who serves as a role model
for her many siblings, and the other of Esmeralda, who strives
to
become
an
prestigious
American
Performing
teenager
Arts
and
High
to
School.
graduate
Many
from
the
International
students face culture shock too. The article "Cultural shock and
studying abroad" published on Diversityabroad.com states,
"Culture enables one to be unique and also give identity
which make own culture different from others. It is not
only
means
of
communication
among
people
but
create
togetherness among people. Culture is knowledge but also as

a cognitive model used to perceive and interpret the world
around us. Experiencing a new culture could cause cultural
shock
while
students
are
studying
abroad,
it
could
be
stressful and complex as well. Cultural shock can make one

loss his sense of well-being and this can result to anxiety,
misunderstanding new things, diverse experiences and all
these can lead to depression. New international students
seems to experience new culture, new people and probably
new
language
all
these
joined
together
shock when students study aboard."
can
be
cultural
To be successful, International students have to learn to adapt

to the new culture as soon as possible, Esmeralda did, thus she
went on to become a successful author. She could balance her
American
life
and
her
Puerto
Rican
values,
which
is
very
important for every migrant and International student.
The third issue that Esmeralda faced in Almost a Woman and

many International students face is loneliness and homesickness.
Esmeralda couldn't easily make friends in her new high school
and was generally treated as an outcast by most students because
of
her
different
culture
and
lifestyle.
Esmeralda
becomes
homesick and misses her papi, her brothers and sisters and her
village
in
Puerto
Rico.
She
craves
to
go
back
home.
Many
International students face the very same issues like Esmeralda

faced. In the journal "Loneliness and International students An Australian study", authors, Sawir, E. Marginson, S. Deumert,
A. Nyland, C & Ramia G. state,
"Loneliness is experienced by everybody being at some point
in
time
and
it
is
more
likely
to
happen
under
normal
circumstances due to been away from home for a long period

of
time
or
loss
of
some
very
close
to
you.
Dietary
restriction, sudden exposure to an unfamiliar environment

can
lead
to
complaining.
Some
students,
could
have
difficulties
adjusting
to
new
environment
or
sudden
change, this could cause mood change for students or leads

to loneliness"
According to the same authors, "major reasons for international
students being lonely were due to lose of contacts from their
friends
and
family."
These
reasons
easily
correlate
to
Esmeralda's reasons of wanting to go back home too.
There are many problems faced by people who migrate to a

new country. Esmeralda faced those issues too, but, migrating to
a more developed country also offers huge possibilities for the
migrants to succeed and lead a better life. Esmeralda overcame
all the roadblocks through her sheer determination and went on
to graduate from the prestigious school of performing arts and
became a successful author. Her book can be an inspiration to
many international students and migrants who face similar kind
of roadblocks to their success.
Sources
Santiago, Esmeralda, Esmeralda Santiago, and Esmeralda Santiago.

Almost a Woman. Reading, MA: Perseus, 1998. Print.
Diversityabroad.2009. Cultural Shock and studying abroad.

Avaliable: http://www.diversityabroad.com/cultural-shock Accessed
on 17 April 2011.
Montgomery, C. 2010. Understanding the International Students

Experience.
Sawir, E. Marginson, S. Deumert, A. Nyland, C & Ramia G. 2007.

Loneliness and International students: An Australian study.
Available: http://www.sciencedirect.com
Zhang ,Y. and Mi, Y. 2010.Another Look at the Language

Difficulties of International Students. University of Canberra,
Australian Capital Territory, Australia.

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Anirudha Dasgupta

ISSUES FACED BY INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

difference between her life in a small village called Macun in

the same issues, Esmeralda faces in the novel. The issues of

completely different culture than the one I am used to, back

One of the biggest issue faced by Esmeralda when she first

become successful or even to survive in the United States, she

experience", C. Montgomerie states that,

writing and understanding are mostly common and the most

successful in the United States of America.

Another big issue that migrants and International students

problem when she moves to Brooklyn from her rural surroundings.

herself and maintaining her true identity as a Puerto Rican. She

togetherness among people. Culture is knowledge but also as

stressful and complex as well. Cultural shock can make one

shock when students study aboard."

To be successful, International students have to learn to adapt

important for every migrant and International student.

The third issue that Esmeralda faced in Almost a Woman and

International students face the very same issues like Esmeralda

circumstances due to been away from home for a long period

restriction, sudden exposure to an unfamiliar environment

change, this could cause mood change for students or leads

Esmeralda's reasons of wanting to go back home too.

There are many problems faced by people who migrate to a

Santiago, Esmeralda, Esmeralda Santiago, and Esmeralda Santiago.

Diversityabroad.2009. Cultural Shock and studying abroad.

Montgomery, C. 2010. Understanding the International Students

Sawir, E. Marginson, S. Deumert, A. Nyland, C & Ramia G. 2007.

Zhang ,Y. and Mi, Y. 2010.Another Look at the Language

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