UW-Madison students met at Bradley Learning Community Thursday to explore the elements of college life that lead to culture shock when entering the campus as new or international students.
A popular complaint among dorm-dwellers is dining hall food, but for international students the experience can be entirely different.
\The fruit here is sweeter than Chinese fruit,"" said Dongmei Zhao incoming UW-Madison grad student. ""I think they threw some sugar in it.""
For some, new cuisine experiences are embraced, leaving the curious trying all they can get their hands on.
""In my first week, I tried every restaurant on State Street. ... I just picked out a good picture and if it looked good, I was pretty sure it would taste good,"" said Cuncun Luan in the School of Business.
Along with food, State Street is also associated with the bar and party life that this campus has come to be known for, and each student new to the campus comes from a different perspective on the issue.
""[Drinking] is a socialization experience. That's what undergrad is, learning how to socialize,"" UW-Madison graduate student Stephen Gresham said. ""I think that college is a place for students to learn to do things appropriately.""
""Partying is more popular in Chinese Universities. All the boys would try to drink as much as possible and we'd have to carry them back to the dormitories,"" Zhao said.
The differing cultural emphasis on academics was evident when a member of the audience declared himself without a major.
""In China you have to choose a major before you can get in to school,"" Luan said.
Some international students have found the university offers a lighter courseload.
""Compared to the nine or 10 courses we take in India, three classes a semester here is nothing,"" UW-Madison first-year graduate student Ramya Sundaesan said.
After four years as undergraduate students, those who entered UW-Madison as graduate students offered a piece of advice to new students.
""The biggest thing for me was learning how to say no and creating boundaries. Self-care and 'me time' changed my life,"" said UW-Madison Ph.D. student Madhu Verma-Soin.
