2008 Woodie Awards
Exchange students join UST community
Laura Avila and Danny Dyer
Issue date: 2/19/08 Section: Features
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The program allows students from countries such as Spain, France, Argentina, the Philippines, Australia, Ireland, Taiwan and Japan to take courses at UST related to their fields. The University has exchange agreements with various universities that allow the student to complete the academic semester according to the host school's academic and financial requirements.
Senior political science major Francois Reynes arrived at the University this spring from Institut Catholique d'Etudes Superieures, or the Catholic Institute for High Studies, in La Roche Sur Yon in western France. Upon arrival, he said he was surprised by the warmth of UST students and faculty. He said people are often delighted to hear he is from France and share their experience while traveling there.
"People are very friendly here," Reynes said. "I don't know if all campuses are like this, but this one is very quiet and pleasant. Everyone is so open and cultural. I attended the Lunar New Year celebration today. It is very different from France."
Lorena Olazar, a senior communication major from Abat Oliba CEU University in Barcelona, Spain, agreed. "Everyone is warm and tells me 'Welcome to America!'"
Yasushi Hashioka, a 21-year-old philosophy major from Chuo University in Tokyo, Japan, came to UST last fall to practice his English and to explore American culture. At UST, he is focusing on theology and international studies. "In Japan, there are almost only Japanese people; so a big difference [between Japan and America] is the diversity of cultures, which creates different viewpoints," Hashioka said.
However, adjusting to the American education system and lifestyle has been a bit of a challenge, Olazar said. "It is so different here than in Spain or Europe," Olazar said. "You need a car to do everything, so the first few weeks were difficult. But, once I made friends, it was great because they helped me get around."
Olazar's Abat Oliba CEU classmate, senior communication and marketing major Marc Perello, is also getting used to the changes from home. "The schedule is an adjustment," he said. "I'm not used to having lunch at 12 p.m. and dinner at 6 p.m. [In Spain] there is a bigger gap, and everything runs later."