By Jessica Pacetti
News/Forum editor
The “international experience” at NCC can vary depending on the student.
For three international students – sophomore Fatlum Gashi, Jinsiyan Li (Echo), and senior Xiao Wang – their stories are as different as their homelands.
Here for a year
Gashi is an international student from Kosovo and is majoring in international relations. He is currently studying at NCC for a year through the IREX – Kosovo Undergraduate Exchange Program. This program is funded by U.S. Department of State allowing students to study in U.S. for one full academic year.
“I learned about it through surfing online and a friend of mine,” Gashi stated. “I liked it and it was not too difficult to fill out the application.”
The application process had three main steps. First, Gashi had to fill out an application about himself, his activities and academics, and why he should be selected for this program. Out of all the applications, 16 students were chosen for an interview with Gashi being one of them. The numbers decreased to eight students to take the TOEFL test, an English language proficiency test. The waiting period between the test and the results was over a month long and eventually, Gashi and four other students were selected for the program. The transition period from Kosovo to NCC involved three seminars: one in Kosovo, one in Washington D.C., and the last being NCC.
Gashi is currently an on-campus resident in Patterson Hall. When asked what on-campus life is like, he said “I like it because it’s more independent. There, you socialize more, share more, and accept more than living separately, and it’s more joyful and fun. I never lived in a dorm and I was suspicious at first. But I like it so far.”
The education system has been a little bit of a challenge adjusting to for Gashi. In Kosovo, the classes are larger and the professor does not really notice if you are present in the class or not. NCC has smaller class sizes so it is easy to not be missed. Also the English language was different here from what he learned from books mainly because of the slangs that the Chicago land area has.
Yet, Gashi has been getting involved in the NCC campus as a member of the International Club, Black Student Association, and History Club. He has even been to the Shedd Aquarium, Field Museum, and Navy Pier in downtown Chicago.
When asked about any fond memories, Gashi said “To be honest, I didn’t expect the people to be friendly as they are. I like the people here. They are all really friendly.”
Experience for a Term
Li is an international exchange student from Univeristé Catholique de l’Ouest d’Angers in France and is studying at NCC for a term.
Li choose to study at NCC because it is close to Chicago and it’s a small school, so it’s easier to get closer to people and read positive comments of other international students who have studied at NCC as well as the classes that she wishes to study in.
The transition from the school in France to NCC was easy. Li has traveled a lot. She was in France for four and half years, London for a month, and Spain for two to three months. Understanding the languages was helpful in her transition and also forces her to learn different languages more.
“The one thing that surprised me was there is no common transport,” stated Li. “Not only in Naperville or Chicago, but even in New York or Washington D.C. I feel that the common transport is not very developed, and it’s really hard to go somewhere. There are a few Metra stations but they are very far from each other.”
Li also explains that the transportation is limited at NCC with only the shuttle as an access to get off campus. The hours are limited or other times it’s a little bit more crowded. Even with a bike from the school, everything still feels spread out to Li.
According to Li, her university in France and NCC has some differences between them. Univeristé Catholique de l’Ouest d’Angers is a smaller campus with private buildings, no stadium, and students live outside of campus in apartments. The class sizes consist of 100 students. NCC has a football stadium, the class sizes average out at about twenty students, and students can either live on or off campus. Li lives on campus in Res/Rec.
The teaching style is different as well. Li described that in France use no textbooks, homework is lighter, and the teachers usually do not care if you come just as long as you pass the class. NCC classes have been a very different experience for Li.
“I really like the class here. The teachers are very passionate. They really want to teach and they want you to learn. You can go to the teacher’s office for help. Other places I feel like teachers are just doing their job, but here the teachers like to teach,” said Li.
She also enjoys the variety of student activities available on campus, such as the International Club because they want you to come and participate, which is different from her university in France.
Li plans on continuing with her studies this term and hang out with friends. After her term at NCC, she plans on traveling for a month in Montréal and Toronto in Canada, California, and south.
Graduate with an NCC Degree
Wang, from China, is a senior majoring in Actuary Science and Computer Science. She transferred to NCC last year from Green River Community College in Auburn, Washington as a degree-seeking student, hoping to graduate with a degree from NCC this school year.
“I love the study environment here because the university here is different from a Chinese university. In China, we don’t study a lot in university because we study too much in high school. I don’t think it’s good because the university is the last stop before a job so it should be the time you study the most. That’s the biggest reason,” Wang stated. “My parents also love the study environment here and they support me all the way.”
Some other reasons include the environment itself with its clean sky, the community life, and the connection of Chicago so close by.
“I personally do not like a boring life. I could stay at home, my parents could find me a job, but it’s not my style. It’s cool to study in another country,” said Wang. “I feel more mature and my mind feels more open because I see more.”
Wang’s transition from China to the U.S. involved an agent in her hometown with a connection between China and Green River Community College. After finishing her last high school final, her parents gave her one day to decide if she wanted to study abroad. She thought, “Why not?” and after 30 days she was in the United States at Green River Community College and then transferred to NCC.
This year Wang lives off campus because she is not used to American-styled food and so she can have her own room again.
When asked about any fond memories of NCC, Wang stated, that “the professors here are the best. I can clearly feel that their entire goal is to make the students successful, and I feel and see that. They make sure that what we learn is not for the grades but for the real world. They are helpful not only in class but out of class.”
Wang is involved in campus life as treasurer of International Club, a member of the Math Honors club, and has three jobs on campus.
“Senior year is a challenge, but I look forward to finish the year. And it will feel good to finish the year. I want to go to grad school, but I want to use the lessons in the real world. For now I want to enjoy senior year,” said Wang.
