"Far From Home, Close to Stress"

Graphic by Fai Fong

Studying abroad is the dream of any foreign student. It is an opportunity to unleash abilities, broaden horizons, make unforgettable impressions and acquire new skills.

Every year, a vast number of students from different countries come to the United States with hopes of getting higher education and building their futures. 

By studying in the US, international students make educational institutions more in demand and diverse. These students contribute to colleges’ academic success, further degrees, active participation in their fields of study, inclusivity and economic value.

However, apart from the opportunity to have an unforgettable experience, certain obstacles hinder and overwhelm international students. This is a reality that many local students and professors are unaware of. International students contend with financial constraints, documentation issues, lack of privileges, language barriers, academic pressures and cultural differences.

First of all, the main problem for international students is financial constraints and economic inequality. While new California residents and recent California high school graduate  students who are residents could apply for an SMC Promise Grant, will be exempt from paying tuition, medical care, student benefits, related student resources, and representation expenses, international students pay $5,600 for 12 units per semester. 

Sadly, there are practically no discounts, grants, or scholarships for international students to cover more than half of this amount. Furthermore, many students here come from large families, where it can be very difficult to pay for their studies if they have several children.  Others come from middle-income families in their homeland, where even a one-time tuition fee can put a heavy financial burden on them. 

 For example, in Kazakhstan, $5,600 is about 3 million tenge (Kazakh currency), while the average salary is about 300,000 to 400,000 tenge, which is almost $800. I chose my home country as an example, because I want to demonstrate the gap between average income in a foreign country and the actual costs of studying abroad, to dispel the common stereotype that international students are highly wealthy. 

Thus, it is clear that many international parents need to take out loans to pay for their children’s education, even for just one semester. Given this fact, institutions should either reduce the price of tuition, or provide each student with the opportunities to cover this amount, such as scholarships or high-paying campus jobs.

In addition to paying a high tuition, students are forced to look for housing that is not a dormitory. The majority of community colleges, including SMC, do not offer dorms or assistance to foreign students who are underage or unfamiliar with the area. These students do not receive airport transfers, mentoring or housing. For students who still live abroad, many rental options require an advance payment for the entire year plus an appropriate deposit.

Moreover, many people wonder why international students have to pay additional expenses for certain courses, performances, and so on. In SMC’s theater department, each local student actor completes three academic units to participate in the plays, without paying additional costs, as these credits are already included in the tuition fee. However, international students have to pay almost $2,000 just to participate and earn the same units. 

Based on personal experience, I was faced with an interesting situation. At the very beginning of the rehearsals, the stage managers mentioned that we could get about three units for participating in the play. I was happy about it until I found out that I would have to pay a certain amount. Considering that we had already devoted our time, effort, and creativity to this project, it seemed unfair.

I paid because I thought that this condition was the same for everyone. Later, I found out from my colleagues that this amount was paid exclusively by foreign actors. Lately, I discovered that it was considered as additional credits that international students were supposed to pay for . I was shocked that local students do not pay for the performances, and the rehearsals took almost six hours, so I haven't been back yet. 

The controversy is that there are many more expectations and requirements for international students, even though they do not have access to the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) that many American students rely on. They also have limitations and competitiveness with most scholarships.

Secondly, foreign students face problems with legal and bureaucratic restrictions. Specifically, these include restrictions on employment, obtaining a Social Security number and a valid work permit, and finding opportunities to volunteer. These obstacles affect students and their families financially and limit their opportunities to gain practical experience in their fields of study. Therefore, despite the fact that they are very motivated to participate and develop, many international students experience feelings of disappointment and isolation.

“International students cannot work off-campus without a work permit or social security number, as they can apply three or five months in advance in their final year before the last semester,” said Jeremy Lange, International Student Services Specialist at SMC. “Volunteering with the United States is also considered a job, so you also need a permit.”

We wonder where to look for self-sufficiency funds. It seems that if students can't work off-campus, they should look for a job on campus, like in the library or cafeteria. However, not all college employees fulfill their management and obligations by delaying payment. For students who are already struggling to find a balance between studying and survival, this increases stress and insecurity.

The pressure on students has become even more acute, especially now, in the context of a difficult political situation. Students have to cope with the fear of violating the conditions of their visa as immigration regulations are being investigated. And also because of academic and financial stresses which put visa status of international students at risk. In addition, some people become victims of fraud, which is often committed through emails on behalf of educational institutions or immigration authorities. Students may accidently share important information because they believe that the messages are real, which could lead to identity theft or immigration problems.  In more extreme situations, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers could make unexpected visits to students, further increasing the atmosphere of uncertainty and anxiety.

Finally, the international students often face cultural differences and language barriers. It could affect not only psychological stability, personal well-being, but also academic performance. The mentality, etiquette, communication style, slang, social adaptation and expectations in the classroom can be radically different from what students are used to in their home countries. It takes patience, time, and the support of peers and faculty to overcome these obstacles.

‘It happened that people perceived me aggressively, because my communication style was different. That is, I could ask or say something very calmly, but people perceived it impropriety,” said Ariunjargal Ganbold, a student from Mongolia. “It also took me a while to get used to the local slang and phraseological units in order to integrate into communication.” It reflects a typical problem faced by international students trying to establish valuable connections by orient in a new cultural norms.

Therefore, local students, professors and employees need to be sympathetic to situations where international students may show some degree of unconscious misconduct and misunderstanding. 

Most students, like immigrants in general, face various psychological problems when they fail to adapt. Nasima Quzieva, a student from Tajikistan, said, “It is a common occurrence that students who come here on certain conditions feel quite internally shackled or restricted. 

“Unfortunately, some students, thinking that they did not meet their parents' expectations, or because they were afraid to return home…. passed away either as a result of their own actions or as a result of situations caused by extreme emotional stress.” These tragic and heartbreaking consequences show how urgently needed the available psychiatric care and a more sympathetic understanding of the international students’ experience.

Academic learning is also not an easy task, since a significant portion of students do not speak English as their native language. Relearning subjects from a native language to English can make it harder to participate in classroom discussions, complete assignments, or establish relationships with peers and professors. In addition, this language barrier can prevent students from fully demonstrating their academic potential and often causes self-doubt.

Therefore, when two events, “Japanese Conversation Café - Tea Time” and “Global Citizenship Symposium,” were held on the main campus, it helped to introduce students to a new culture. To establish a welcoming and supportive college environment where all students, regardless of background, can succeed, it is important to recognize and eliminate these struggles.

It can be seen that studying abroad is fraught with serious obstacles that are sometimes overlooked, even if it gives international students a rare opportunity to develop both academically and personally. Cultural barriers, legal and document limitations, and financial difficulties can all have a significant impact on their academic performance and overall well-being. These challenges show how much additional institutional assistance, more equal and fair policies, and greater awareness of local students and staff are needed. We will not be able to create a truly inclusive and motivating learning environment unless we all realize this and take action.