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How to quickly integrate into life as a freshman in the United States
How can freshmen quickly integrate into American life?
1. Adjustment is required for acclimatization
I had imagined that studying abroad would be a beautiful life, but when you really start, you will find a huge contrast between the two! This kind of "not adapting to the local environment" is first reflected in new international students! The most straightforward example is what Chinese people care about the most - eating! In China, you think it is a happy thing for foreigners to eat fast food every day, but when it is your turn to eat hamburgers and fries as a staple food, you will find that it is simply painful! So my advice to everyone is: if you have time and basic cooking skills, you can try to cook for yourself!
2. Learning methods need to change
Chinese people are recognized as the most hardworking people in the world, but the diligence of Chinese students in their studies is based on the whip of exam-oriented education! American education is more based on student initiative. International students who have just arrived in American classrooms often leave others with the impression that they are "unwilling to speak in class, silent, and huddled together after class"!
3. Create a time management plan
American universities place more emphasis on students' independent learning ability, so in addition to the time spent in class, American students also need to spend more time on extracurricular reading and self-study! But time planning is not limited to study! Because your study abroad life includes study and life, etc.! It is very necessary to arrange your extracurricular activities, social activities, travel, and daily trivial matters reasonably! Be sure to plan ahead and distinguish the priorities!
4. Contact the Chinese Students and Scholars Association
The full name of CSSA is Chinese Students and Scholars Association, which is our student and scholar association! The association will help international students solve many problems: information exchange platform, including renting houses, old books, making friends, etc.
5. Communicate more than others
In China, being introverted and quiet is a sign of being sensible and obedient to a certain extent! However, in foreign countries, especially in countries like the United States, the lack of initiative to communicate with others is a character defect! Consciously learn how to communicate with others and improve your ability to adapt to foreign life and solve problems. If you encounter problems abroad or have disputes and conflicts with others, good communication skills will help international students!
6. Understand the differences in life and culture between China and the United States
In addition to the change of learning methods, the challenge they face is to adapt to the new environment and the cultural differences between China and the United States. If you want to integrate into the United States as soon as possible, it is very necessary to know more about the differences in daily life and culture between China and the United States. When interacting with local people, learn more about local cultural traditions and some daily taboos. When communicating with local people, try to learn the local language expressions. However, even after getting familiar with each other, it does not mean that there is no bottom line for joking: Little do people know that the "freedom" in the United States is relative. Although Americans are relatively open and free, they also have their own life and cultural taboos, such as personal privacy, beliefs, etc.
7. Understand the local security and medical conditions
Whether you are living on campus or renting a house, you need to have a strong sense of security when studying in the United States. Each community will have a police officer who is responsible for security. He will report and make public the security incidents that have occurred in the area in recent years!
News! At the same time, it is also necessary to learn about various safety knowledge through various channels and take the initiative to ask the school for relevant safety information, manuals and emergency contact numbers to prevent accidents before they happen! Medical institutions and emergency rooms need to be kept up to date after reporting to school!
8. Cultivate critical thinking
What is right and what is wrong? For an adult, you need to judge for yourself! Unlike the traditional Chinese memorization-based education, the ability to think independently is what the American education system emphasizes! In American universities, critical thinking is required to critically discuss reading materials in discussion classes and to evaluate and argue various evidence when writing papers. Critical thinking is a skill that American college students must master, which is not only of great help to their studies, but also will affect their future work.
Further reading: Where is the best place to study in the US: cities or rural areas
1. Clothing
1. Cities
Cities like New York and Los Angeles are very sensitive to fashion. When you go shopping or go to school here, you can often see trendy people wearing all kinds of clothes. The society is also relatively accepting and will not criticize your clothing.
2. Rural areas
The concept of rural areas in the United States is different from that in my country. They are more like holiday suburbs. People here tend to dress in a comfortable and casual style. In schools, hoodies, jeans, etc. are very common, and school uniforms are very popular.
2. Food
1. Cities
Due to the prosperous economy and convenient external transportation in the city, there are many kinds of food here. In addition to traditional delicious food, Chinese food, French cuisine and Japanese cuisine are very common. Everyone can enjoy food from different countries. It is a paradise for foodies.
2. Rural areas
In rural areas where transportation is less convenient, the variety of food is much smaller, but correspondingly, the taste here is more distinctive and authentic. You can enjoy very cheap and generous portions of delicious food, and you can also cook for yourself. The price of local ingredients is very cheap.
3. Accommodation
1. Cities
The dormitories provided by the schools here are not cheap, and the rent for renting a house by yourself is also very expensive. Although the modern facilities will be more complete, they all cost money. The cost of accommodation will be relatively high, and everyone will spend more.
2. Rural areas
The consumption level in rural areas is much lower, the expenses of various types of accommodation are not high, and everyone has more space to enjoy. Most importantly, there are more public facilities and a large area for activities, so everyone's living space will be more comfortable.
4. Action
1. Cities
In this regard, the city has inherent advantages, with complete subway and bus construction, as well as convenient ride-hailing services. Students living in New York usually need a subway card, ride a bicycle when they are more diligent, and take an Uber when they are in a hurry.
2. Rural areas
Public transportation in the village is very underdeveloped, there is almost no subway, and buses only run on a few routes in busy areas, and sometimes the waiting time is calculated by hours. Taxis are also very rare, and it is basically impossible to wave down a taxi on the road.
Further reading: Things to note when studying in the United States
1. Don’t hitchhike easily
When studying in the United States, on the one hand, do not hitchhike casually, and on the other hand, do not easily agree to a ride from someone who asks for a ride. Due to the public security in the United States, hitchhikers are often robbed.
2. Don’t be too silent
Americans are straightforward and don't like silence. They will talk a lot, and even a moment's pause is not what they want. So we should not be too silent, but need to join the conversation at the right time.
3. Don’t be too modest
In China, modesty is a virtue, but Americans regard excessive modesty as a synonym for hypocrisy. For example, if a person who can speak fluent English modestly says that his English is not good, and then speaks fluent English again, Americans will think that he is lying, a hypocrite, and a pretentious person. Therefore, when interacting with Americans, we should just say what we mean and don’t need to be polite.
4. Girls can’t drink alone
When studying in the United States, if you drink alone, you will be regarded as a "woman waiting for a man", which may lead to harassment from men in the form of "self-recommendation".
5. Don’t give random gifts
Giving gifts to friends on holidays is a common thing, but don't give gifts randomly. For example, on a friend's birthday, people usually give flowers, perfume or whiskey. If you give gifts too frequently, others will think you have other motives.
6. Don’t pay for your friends
In China, when it's time to pay the bill when dining out, there will always be someone rushing to pay; in the United States, if you do this, not only will you not get any thanks from Americans, but they will feel like they owe you a favor, which will make them feel uncomfortable psychologically, because when Americans go out together, they always pay for their own expenses.
7. Close the door after using the restroom
Chinese people are accustomed to closing the toilet door after using it, and will close it tightly when there is no one in the toilet. Americans are accustomed to leaving a small gap in the toilet door to indicate that there is no one inside; if the toilet door is closed tightly, it means there is someone inside.
8. Don’t smile casually
In some places, a smile can bring friendship; but in some occasions, a smile often represents a promise to something. Especially for women, don't smile for no reason, because an ambiguous smile can sometimes be mistaken for "ridicule" and sometimes for "acquiescence", which can lead to great misunderstandings.
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