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April 2014, Waukesha, Wisconsin USA: Carroll University

   You are probably wondering why my web page background is white. That is because it is covered with snow. To be honest, when I go back home I will probably tell everyone that all I remember about America is snow - endless snowing.

 

The Quest for Self-Exploration in America

Lan H. Le

Computer Science Major

Sorry, where are my manners? Let me introduce myself. My name is Lan. I am from Vietnam. Currently I am a sophomore studying Computer Science at Carroll University. I came to Wisconsin for college about 2 years ago.

You might ask, "Why did I go to a country that is half a globe away, leaving my family and my friends behind?"

1997 - 1998, Washington D.C., USA: Kindergarten

Every story has a beginning. Mine started when I was at a very young age. In 1997, when I was 4, I set foot on America for the first time. My whole family stayed here for a year while my mother finished her Master degree in Washington D.C. A year is certainly not a short time. Unfortunately, I was too young at the time to actually remember my first “invasion” of America.

1998 - 2010, Hanoi, Vietnam: Elementary School,
Middle School, Puberty, High School, etc.

After that year, my family went back to Vietnam. As I grew up, sometimes I tried to remember about the time my family was in the U.S. All I could gather were blurred and unclear memories. Somehow, that became one of the reasons why I decided to go back to America for college, to regain my memories of this land. The rest of the reasons were the need for an outstanding education and the desire for an adventure.

Similar to any typical teenager, I was so naïve and hopeful, thinking that I would be able to adapt and thrive just fine in a completely different country. After all, young people like me should be flexible enough to do that.

I was wrong, horribly wrong…

September 2010 - June 2011, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, USA: High School Exchange

I still feel terrible whenever I think about the first month I came back to America after so many years. First of all, the jetlag made me tired and sluggish for most of my first week. I slept when others were wide awake and when people were sound asleep, I would be in my bed desperately trying to sleep. That was not the biggest problem, however. My biological clock adjusted eventually but there were still a lot of obstacles that I needed to get through. One of these was the language barrier.

For the first month, I barely survived classes. I understood very little of what my teachers said. Even harder was listening to my classmates’ conversations. Back then, every day at school for me was torture. Luckily, I had a very supportive host family. They helped me and loved me as though I was truly a family member. Thanks to them and my own efforts, I overcame my difficulties and had amazing grades at school.

 

After the school year, I left to finish my high school education in Vietnam.

     Timeline:

  • 1997 - 1998

  • 1998 - 2010

  • 2010 - 2011

  • 2012 - now

 

September 2012 - now, Waukesha, Wisconsin USA:
College - America Take 3 

I didn't think that going back for college would be much of an issue since I had already had 1 year experience in the U.S. I was fluent in the language. I knew about the culture quite well. However, it did not mean that my transition to college was easy.

Compared to high school, college was a whole new world. It was the first time I truly had to do everything by myself and mostly without any guidance. I also met many people that were different from me. I learned about opinions and ideas that challenged my beliefs. I was constantly pushed out of my comfort zone. And I will tell you this: It was not comfortable. Not to mention that homesickness became the worst sickness I experienced during my time abroad. Over time, though, I got used to other things but I still could not cope with homesickness.

The journey still goes on...

   It seems that all I have been doing here is complaining (whining – if you prefer). However, though, I appreciate all the problems and difficulties thrown in my path, because without them I would not be who I am today. Here is an incomplete list of what I have gained from the years I lived and studied abroad:

  • Independence: Sooner or later, you will have to live on your own, so the sooner the better. Living alone gives you a chance to learn skills that are useful for your future life.

  • Confidence: If you lived half a globe away from your family and still did fine, you should be confident that you can take on anything.

  • Knowledge: In order to deal with my homesickness, I use classes and books as a distraction. I also try to keep myself busy with learning to do something new, such as cooking and playing musical instruments.

  • Attitude: With the right attitude you can do anything. For me, it is optimism and persistence.

After all, the time you spend away from your family and friends is a perfect opportunity for you to explore yourself. That is exactly what I have done every day that I have been here.

Throw yourself out there. You would be surprised with the things you could learn and do.

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