[transcribed from a clipping from the Daily Nebraskan about 1984 as I couldn’t find in online]
Foreign-American student interaction meager
New Zealand, Afghanistan, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Korea, Lebanon, Pakistan, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, Vietnam, England, France, Germany, Poland, Spain, Cameroon, Egypt, Morocco, Nigeria, Tunisia, Columbia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Guyana, Mexico, Panama, Peru, Puerto Rico, and Venezuela.
If you were patient enough to tally them up you would have counted 35 countries. What do they have in common? They are all the homelands of one-fourth of Selleck Quadrangle Residence Hall’s 540 students.
Several issues dealing with foreign-American student relations were discussed April 15 at an International Educational Services-sponsored forum comprised of a panel of five foreign UNL students and four American students, including ASUN President Gerard Keating. One of the largest problems agreed upon by both sides of the panel was the lack of personal exchange between most American and foreign students at UNL.
The fear of interacting with people of different nationalities was an often-cited barrier in the way of changing this situation. In the 2 1/2 years I have lived in Selleck. I have seen that this fear (and discomfort) need not take such control. The Americans in Selleck are lucky enough to eat their three-to-ninety minute meals with Selleck’s foreign residents. In this setting our growing familiarity with one another allows us to replace our fears and anxieties with companionship. Of all the foreign residents in Selleck, half have close American friends to dine, dance, intellectualize, travel, study, celebrate and dream with. And the list goes on.
Some of you would be surprised to find out how much most non-Americans know about our politics, culture, history, personal interests and so on. With this knowledge in common, initiating and sustaining worthwhile conversation is often quite easy.
At times trying to communicate with foreigners can be an irritable task. On those days, for example when you’re several chapters behind in all your classes and your tolerance is low, a given foreigner’s thick accent may be more than your attention can cut through. His painful search for the precise word to use may take up more time than your sanity can spare.
These are the days when you are probably better off plugging your mind into “Three’s Company” and tuning out the rest of the world. These may be the days to avoid your foreign classmates and in the company of your native friends give thanks to God for his gift of small talk.
It is on those days when you’re ahead of the game and you have nothing to do that one or more of UNL’s 1,170 foreign students will be there to offer what he or she has seen of life, complimenting what you learn in the books.
If most foreign students would remain in the United States indefinitely, I wouldn’t have written this editorial. However, most students leave soon after their studies are complete. it will only be the fortunate minority among us who end up in a career position working with such a diverse group of people such as those in Selleck.
After receiving the go-ahead from several of Selleck’s foreign students, I wish to extend something of an invitation to all open-minded UNL students to drop by sometime, possibly during lunch or dinner, like several other non-residents do each day and talk with those foreign students who look like they may have the free time. Neihardt as well has 115 foreign students in the International House, who want to engage in cultural exchange.
While I have seen how easily friends can be made in residence halls, I certainly wouldn’t rule out the possibility of making the acquaintance of those foreign students you may meet in the lecture halls, walking to class, relaxing in the union or any other places in Lincoln.
Joe Hayman
Junior, Social Work
