MONTAGE
The
Serving the St. Louis Community College - Meramec community since 1964 • ACP Award Recipient VOLUME 57, ISSUE 4
DEC. 9, 2021
WWW.MERAMECMONTAGE.COM
Meramec International Students Share Triumphs, Tribulations of Living in the U.S. International Education Week spotlights diversity among student body
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JERRID ROLFE STAFF WRITER
nternational Education Week was celebrated by Meramec the week of Nov. 15 thanks to the organization of the Committee for Global Studies and International Education (GSIE). A combination of on-campus and virtual events were offered; this year focused especially on Japanese culture, such as a demonstration of Japanese calligraphy. The final event of the week was a panel of seven students from different countries across the globe sharing their experiences moving to and living in the United States. Three students from Germany represented the Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange program, while the other four students shared their personal stories of coming to America and, Four Meramec students presented their experiences attending community college and living in America. This event was one of many that eventually, STLCC. took place throughout International Education Week. Photo by Guangrong He. The German students discussed some of the differences they’ve noticed between American and Portuguese to English, especially Professor Shamim Ansari hosted these two COVID years,” Ansairi said, German culture, such as how in when interacting with native speakers. the student panel, representing GSIE. “is that we have been able to invite Germany, the drinking age is 16 but the However, she was very thankful for Ansari has worked at Meramec since people to do these presentations from driving age is 18. the STLCC community, whom she 2008, and has spent nearly all of that other counties and other states.” They also discussed differences in said has been very helpful for her. She time as a member or chair of the GSIE. Ansari is hopeful that next year’s education, noting that in Germany it concluded with the statement that, “I During an interview about the week celebration of International Education is nearly free for German students, think everyone can grow with all of as a whole, Professor Ansari discussed Week can return to the full schedule but education often has far fewer these (diverse) people living together.” how hosting an all-week event when it used to be, saying, “there is no opportunities for extra curriculars Another student, Shruti from India, many students aren’t even on campus substitute to having events on campus.” such as sports or theatre. The students has lived in America for more than a has presented many hurdles along the Like many clubs after the onset finished their presentation by decade now. way. of the pandemic, the International discussing patriotism: “In Germany, She started community college “We used to offer several Student Club was unable to restart this we have almost no patriotism. We have when she first arrived, but ended up presentations each day,” she explained, semester, but Professor Ansari and democracy, free speech, engineering, dropping out due to the difficulty “but this year we could only have four,” Scott Armstead are looking for students and culture, but almost no patriotism of transportation and the language she said. interested in joining or leading the club […] Soccer is the only exception.” barrier. However, there have been some for the spring semester. Isabel, a student who immigrated However, she re-enrolled last year, benefits to the mass-migration to online If you’re interested in learning from Brazil with her husband and was hired for a part-time job, and is now communication that accompanied the more, please email sansari1@stlcc.edu two children, discussed how difficult pursuing a graphic communications world’s adjustments to COVID-19. or sarmstead7@stlcc.edu. the language barrier has been from degree. “One thing that has happened during
VETERAN’S CLUB HOSTS 2021 FLAG RAISING CEREMONY: The Montage was on hand on Nov. 11, 2021 for the 2021 Veterans Day Flag Raising Ceremony. The ceremony that is organized by the Student Veterans Club usually takes place every year, but did not take last year because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Photos by Bruno Grubesic.
