Initial experiences as a student in the U.S.

Hi there!

First, I'd like to say "warm welcome" to everybody coming by here. This is my blog while I study in the George Washington University where I spend my Master degree in engineering management for this next two years.

Let's say, the first topic that I'd like to write about is initial experiences as a student in the United States. Well, I entered the U.S. on October,8 2005 or three months ago as the second time here. Before I entered GW, I attended a language school "International Language Institute" at Dupont circle in D.C. area. It took about 45 days and I had a lot of wonderful experiences while being there. I had many friends from almost over the world in my class, for example, Kenya, Columbia, Senegal, Aserbijan, Austria, Koria, Germany, Japan and Perto rico. Therefore, we can share plenty of experiences from one another to discuss on each topic. Virtually, I ever thought that I had to adapt a lot while I am in the class with other international students because I, at first, believed that there are a lot of difference between us. Nevertheless, I didn't have to adapt at all and I also understood that every person is similar even though we are different in various nation. We laught in the same comedy and we cry in the same tragedy.

Before I write about life in GW, I will talk about my life here. I agree that it is quite hard time when somebody has to move to a new place because he/she have to settle eveything in his/her life again untill everything runs smoothly. What do you think if somebody has to move to new country without any friends or relatives? There will be a lot of problems such as language, food, housing, transportation or loneliness. For my experience, when I entered the U.S., I already contacted homestay from my language school that I would stay with them for my first month so I could look for somewhere else while I was in the United States. I also cut my language problem by studying a lot with my television trying to speak like somebody said on TV and try to speak a lot with my homestay family. After two months, it's pretty better than when I first came here. For housing, I was trying by looking on internet but the prices are quite high. I have tried for several days but no one fitted my needs. However, I fortunately met other people from my country, Thailand, and she offered me in really low price. After I could have a permanent room, everything went easily. I can order some furniture from internet. I could get driver license and buy a car. All of this, I have worked for three months.

Attending GW makes me excited, I'd like to know my classes, my friends and my activities in the university. First, I had an international orientation with International Student Office(ISO). They told me about everything that international students should know in advance. I also met a lot of international students here including other five students from Thailand. Then I attended engineering orientation that its staffs gave various souvenirs such as T-shirt, pens or even a screw!. After happy time, I had to take an EFL placement test which would indicate my level of English and I might have to take an English course here. The result had nothing to surprise me, I had to take EFL 110 class because I did a bad job in my exam.

Today is my first day writing in my blog. I hope everyone who can read untill this sentence be my good reader and you can give any advice or feedback down here.

Have a nice life,
PK