International Student Perspectives About Their Time at Warren Wilson
Jules Goddet | February 2, 2023
Many have most likely noticed a small group of students at Warren Wilson College (WWC) who are often living with each other, and meeting every night at the ANTC dorm. But who are they? They are international students from all over the world who come to WWC each year to spend a semester or two as exchange students.
In fact, Warren Wilson welcomes students from Egypt, France, Colombia, India, Japan, Pakistan, Northern Ireland, the United Kingdom, Ecuador and many other destinations each year. While some students decide to leave at the end of their stay, others, such as Mathilde Pineau, coming from France, have decided to stay and complete their undergraduate studies here.
Two interviewed students came here on an exchange program. Both of them had to choose a certain number of American universities and rank them according to their preferences. For both of them, WWC was not their first choice, but they were both pleasantly surprised.
Emma Lynch comes from Northern Ireland and is on exchange for two semesters. Lynch, leaving in May 2023 and majoring in food and nutrition, is going to go back to Northern Ireland to graduate and get her degree in food and nutrition. She is on the student activities work crew.
“For the program I was in, I got given 70 universities, and I had to choose my top three, and I actually didn't get any of my top three,” Lynch said. “The British consul just kind of placed me here, and it was Yes or No. I was really scared at first because I didn't want to come. But I'm really glad I came.”
Myriam Cisse comes from France and is on exchange for the spring semester. Cisse, a member of the Owls Nest Cafe crew, is majoring in French law and will be returning to France in May 2023. Cisse is planning on becoming a business lawyer.
She said that “To be honest, I didn't have the choice to be here, because I'm from ISEP. It's a program, and I had to make 10 choices. And in those choices, they will choose where I will be and they choose Warren Wilson College. It was like my fourth choice.”
Max Charles, comes from India and will be attending WWC for four years. Charles is majoring in business administration and is a member of the paint crew. He will probably leave WWC by the end of 2024, to work and earn money for himself, then to work in business and invest.
WWC is mostly made up of American students, leading many international students to experience culture shock, all three of them said they are feeling very welcomed and enjoy the Warren Wilson community.
“Everyone is very lovable,” Charles said.
In fact, some exchange students have noticed a real interest from American students towards them, such as students being curious about why they chose WWC, and how they experience being in the U.S. compared to their home country.
“Everyone is very attentive to me because maybe I'm an exchange student, which makes me feel very welcome here,” Cisse said.
With culture shock, the three main subjects that stood out for them were classes, dormitories and food.
Lynch feels that there is a difference in classes compared to her university at home.
“I feel a huge difference in the classroom, everybody talks,” Lynch said. “At home, it's kind of like everyone just listens to the teacher. So I don't really know anybody in my classes at home. Whereas here, I feel like there's a good sense of community.”
Concerning classes, Charles had a different opinion than Lynch.
“Some of them [classes] are really nice and some of the professors are really professional,” Charles said. “But some classes are not great. It's not how a class is supposed to be. We're supposed to learn about topics and things we are actually going to do, rather than talking to each other about random stuff.”
Cisse shares a similar point of view to Charles.
“I think that the problem is not the professor but maybe the way that classes are taught,” Cisse said. “The fact that it's more like a discussion between the student and the teacher. I feel like this is very weird because in France, we just have to listen to what the professor has to say. We have to take notes, something that we don't have to do here. I'm in my third year of college in France and I feel like the classes are maybe easy for people who are at this level.”
Regarding Gladfelter, the cafeteria, the international students shared conflicting points of view.
“I think a lot of people complain about Glad's food, but I actually really like it,” Lynch said.
While some people such as Lynch do not really feel the difference in food culture, other students like Charles, coming from India, have fairly high expectations.
“My home food was so different and so much better. But it is what it is, you know, it's not their [Gladfelter’s] fault, because Glad is doing a good job,” Charles said.
Cisse mostly enjoys Gladfelter but also thinks there is some room for improvement.
“Warren Wilson food is better than my university”, Cisse said. “But I feel like I'm eating the same thing all day.”
Sharing a room was one of the biggest culture shocks for the two of them. Cisse does not have a roommate, but Charles and Lynch do.
“At home, nobody ever shares rooms,” Lynch said. “I mean, sharing a building is one thing. But sharing a room is very intimate, and you don't get a minute to yourself. But I was really lucky in my first semester with Marion, my roommate from France. That was like my biggest fear actually, before coming here was my roommate.”
Similar to Lynch, it was the first time Charles had to share a room.
“Yeah, it's my first time sharing my room,” Charles said. “For the first four months, it was fine. But now I feel like I need a separate room.”
Despite some difficulties that all of them have faced since they arrived, they all answered that they are enjoying their study abroad. In fact, the main reason Charles came to WWC was due to the campus. When asked if they wanted to change something about WWC, they wanted more transportation possibilities. The two strongest points of WWC, from their point of view, were the campus and the students.
“I think there's a really good sense of community and the campus is really nice as well, which I guess is a bonus,” Lynch said. “I'm kind of glad that I was placed here because like I never ever would have chosen to come somewhere like this. But it really shocked me and I'm really enjoying it. I really don’t want to leave in May.”
While WWC is receiving many international students, it is also sending American students all over the world. Being part of an exchange program is to many an amazing experience that happens once in a lifetime and should be lived. It gives one many opportunities such as traveling to a new country, learning about new culture and making new friends.