6A THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2005
KULTURE
Global
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10A
"If a teacher wants to know your performance level, they just call you up to the blackboard in front of the class,and you pretty much have to say everything you know."
Focusing on one specific field of study was something Lin was not expecting.
"I'd never thought about it before, because in Hong Kong the definition of a good student is to be good at everything," Lin said. "It's hard to find out what you want to do, or what you're interested in."
Burduli and Castillo both have found the professors at the University to be more friendly and helpful than instructors in their native countries. Castilo noted the helpfulness of office hours and study groups, which were absent in Bolivia.
She is still debating between majoring in business, pharmacy, architecture or perhaps something else.
Social Life
"In Hong Kong, if your grades are good, the teachers like you, but if your grades are bad, they won't help you at all," Lin said.
During her first semester at the University, Lin concentrated mostly on her grades, as was the norm at her school in Hong Kong.
Burduli said the attitude of professors was different in Georgia.
This past summer, Lin said, she decided to adopt a new philosophy toward life in college. She was determined to make friends and become involved, rather than revolving her life around classes.
Along with a less-competitive school system, Lin has also found professors who are more friendly than her teachers at the Catholic school she attended in Hong Kong.
Lin thinks Lawrence is a quiet town, especially at night. She misses the way she could go almost anywhere with her friends at odd hours of the morning in Hong Kong. She said she could go shopping at 2 or 3 a.m. if she wanted to.
"Now I don't have to care that much about classes," she said. "Grades are not the only things that matter."
Lin enjoys being able to join extracurricular organizations and activities, something she said was rare at her old school. She is a member of several organizations at the University, including the Hong Kong and Macau Student Association, the International Student Association and a finance club.
"American food gets old in about two weeks," Burdul said.
Castillo and Burduli also were impressed with the opportunities available for students to get involved at the University, as well as the social atmosphere.
Because of time constraints, Lin cannot visit her home for at least another two years and may be staying in the United States for six or more years. She said she misses her family and friends in Hong Kong, as well as genuine Chinese food, which she said is much better than the Chinese served at restaurants here.
Lin said her family promised to come here at least once a year, and she hoped they will follow up on their promise.
Castillo said he found people in Bolivia to be more friendly and somewhat more tolerant than people here, and Burduli said that he misses family, friends and food in Georgia.
Lin said she planned to return to Hong Kong to work after she finishes her education. She credits her childhood there for teaching her how to manage her time and work independently.
"Despite its faults, I still love Hong Kong," Lin said. "I got to learn how to work under pressure and how to do things efficiently."
Edited by Alison Peterson
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