WEDNESDAY, JULY 2, 2008
News
WWW.KANSAN.COM
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
17
Mindy Ricketts/KANSA Saudi Arabia National Day celebrates the unification of the country with traditional music and dancing. Mohammed Ahmed Al Yousif came from Saudi Arabia a year ago. He said he liked diversity of the U.S., which he couldn't experience in Saudi Arabia.
they would treat white customers because they thought he wouldn't tip well.
In Taiwan, the government holds a celebration with military parades and the national anthem for the Independence Day. Ya-Chi Yen came from Taiwan a year ago. She said, "It's really hard to make American friends. I would like to make more American friends."
José has not been back to Panama since he moved to the U.S. in 1988. Many of his relatives live in Panama and he wants to visit them sometime in his life, but he hesitates to do so. He understands Spanish, but he does not speak it well. He said he worried people would think he was not Panamanian.
2. YA-CHI YEN, TAIWAN
Ya-Chi Yen, Taichung, Taiwan sophomore, came to the University last year, seeking to be a dentist.
"It's not very obvious," he said. "I think it's a just subtle things like that."
"I'm also Americanized," José said.
Yen said American universities offered more freedom to students. For example, students can change their majors more easily because of the flexibility of the American educational system.
He said most of the discrimination was not intended. He said discrimination existed in any culture and people often acted in that way unconsciously.
She said she was also surprised at the open relationship between students and instructors after coming to the University. She said American students often argued against instructors in class. She said many Taiwanese students only listened to their teachers' lectures without any interaction.
"Teachers have more power to control students," she said. "Most students are afraid of teachers."
Taiwan celebrates its independence day, or Double Ten Day, on Oct.10.The Taiwanese gov-
tivals.
Mindy Ricketts/KANSAN
ernment holds an official celebration. Its program includes a presidential speech, public singing of the national anthem and military parade.
Yen said Taiwanese families may gather to remember independence, but usually they did not do anything specific for the day.
Yen said they celebrated traditional events more throughout the year, such as the Chinese New Year, Dragon Boat Festival and the Moon Festival. Those holidays are based on the lunar calendar and are related to Chinese history and legend. Families celebrate the holidays by eating special food, drinking and going to fes-
"Teachers have more power to control students (in Taiwan). Most students are afraid of teachers."
3. MOHAMMED AHMED AL YOUSIF, SAUDI ARABIA
YA-CHI YEN
Taichung, Taiwan sophomore
Mohammed Ahmed Al Yourisif, Al Hassa, Saudi Arabia, graduate student, came to the University to study economics a year ago. He was working at an American bank, which
provided him money to study.
Al Yousif said he hadn't experienced major culture shock since he came here. He had American friends from his work and watched American films at home. He said many
Saudi Arabians were familiar with American culture because of Hollywood and American corporations in Saudi Arabia, such as McDonald's.
Al Vousif said he liked the diversity of American culture. He saw many immigrants and international students from all over the world. He said he could not experience that in Saudi Arabia.
"When I went San Francisco, I went to Chinatown," Al Yousif said. "I felt like I'm in China."
He said many people outside of Saudi Arabia associated the country with desert, but he wanted them to know it had more variety. He said
some places had nice weather similar to California's beautiful mountains and beaches, especially in the south.
Al Yousif said Lawrence was similar to his hometown, Al Hassa, an oasis region in eastern Saudi Arabia.
"It's smaller, not crowded and
there are a lot of trees," Al Yousif said. "I have been to different cities, California, north of Michigan and Seattle. Lawrence is the best."
Saudi Arabia has a national day to celebrate the unification of the country on Sept. 23. People celebrate with
traditional dancing and music, family gatherings and trips to the beach. On that day, King Abdul Aziz talks about the Saudi history on television programs.
Edited by Rustin Dodd