Issue 155

International integration successes

08th May 2007

David Chan, who was born in Wales to Chinese and Welsh parents, is studying Nano-Science. He has been helping many Asian students from Malaysia, Hong Kong and China when they first arrive in Swansea, discovering that the change in lifestyle on moving to Britain can often result in homesickness.

Halls of residence, like Hendrefoilan Student Village, offer them a solution which makes it easier for Asian students to meet Englishspeaking. It gives them a chance to share some of their domestic culture, sometimes sharing a meal with a taste of home.

Moreover, they often join in some activities together after lectures, either heading to the city centre by bus, or spending leisurely time by the sea. In these ways, they gradually get along with new friends well and adapt themselves to the new environment.

Céline Massé, an exchange student from France, has successfully integrated into her new community while studying International Relations. One of the ways she gets involved in new surroundings is by going to the "International Fiesta" parties regularly hosted in DV8 by the Student Union.

At these parties, she can dance with different kinds of foreign music at heart. On the other hand, Céline also witnesses "British drinking culture", which is a huge contrast with the environment in France. She regularly goes to the international café, Sign Post. It has an "Open Night" every Monday and Thursday after 8 pm for both local and overseas students to play games like table tennis together.

From time to time, a series of programs called "International Spotlight" are shown, such as "German Night", "Chinese New Year Night", "Czech Republic" and so on. Céline made a group of friends at "Sign Post" allowing her to continually explore herself in an international atmosphere.

Furthermore, she was one of the candidates for the post of "International Officer" during the Sabbatical Election. While running for election, the support from her good friends from France, Turkey, Taiwan, Britain and many more, made her feel that life in Swansea is fascinating.

Buddha Kush is a postgraduate student in the Centre for Development Studies and he also works as a residential tutor in Ty-Beck House.

His life in Ty-Beck paves a path for him to get to know more international postgrads. Besides, while on duty, he builds better and deeper friendships by helping students solve their daily problems.

What's more, his outgoing character and his great interest in taking photos help to broaden his social life. He participates in three different types of clubs and society at the university.

The Hiking Club and the Mountain-Climbing Club usually arrange trips at the weekends, giving Kush and opportunity to get some and exercise and get some stunning shots of the South Wales landscape. A particularly memorably evening with the Photographic Society was a trip out to sea under the full moon. Visits to DV8 give an opportunity to experiment with a 'freeze-framing technique in portrait pictures. Kush gains more of an understanding about local students in these groups, though he remains more interested in international students because he himself is also from abroad.

For most international students' points of views, settling down in a new country is not that easy, but they can still find ways in which to integrate with students around them.

Living in university accommodation, joining in different types of society or clubs, and going to international cafés and pubs on campus, offers links between international and local students.

Few can deny the beauty of Swansea, and many international students appreciate the spectacular views of the sea on the way to university. Plus, nearby areas such as Mumbles and Gower are great spaces for them to refresh their mind and brain after a day's hard work.

"How do you feel about life in Swansea?" I asked most of my interviewees. The consistent answer was, "It's wonderful!"

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