IS and Proud

In this episode, you'll hear from Dr. Rick Malleus, an associate professor, advisor, and chair of the Communication and Media Department at Seattle University. He is an author of many books and journals focusing on intercultural communication and reentry experience. He was born and raised in Zimbabwe and came here to the USA when he was 18 years old to study. As a person who was an international student, he reflects on things he noticed and liked about the American culture. He also shares the different challenges he faced and the things he had to go through during his journeys. As an author, he reflects on his works' inspiration and motivation, which is because of his personal experience. As a Faculty member, Dr. Malleus shares some tips and advices to international students, such as keeping regular communication with professors, connecting with home to feel relaxed, and counseling. 

Additional resources: 

SU Counseling and Psychological Services: https://www.seattleu.edu/caps/

SU Communication and Media Department: https://www.seattleu.edu/artsci/undergraduate-degrees/communication-media/

DR. Rick Malleus:

 - Reentry book: https://www.routledge.com/Coming-Home-Your-Way-Understanding-University-Student-Intercultural-Reentry/Malleus-Micari/p/book/9781138081765

- Journal: https://doi.org/10.1186/2193-1801-3-211

In this episode, you'll hear from Chhavi Mehra, an Indian Alumni international student at Seattle University, and she majored in Journalism. As an international student, she reflects on the different struggles she faced in her social life with her host family and how she handled everything. She reflects on other issues, such as finance, academic style, and food.   Being an international student in the US taught her to be independent and to speak up for herself. Her advice to current and future international students is to "Please, take advantage of the different resources you have in your disposition on Campus, and reach out to people in the International Student Center." She shares some tips that SU students and staff can use to improve international students' lives during their time in the US. She is pursuing her career in Journalism and still spreading Good Vibes Everywhere.

Additional resources:

International Student Center: https://www.seattleu.edu/isc/

SU Student resources on Campus: https://www.seattleu.edu/core/for-students/student-resources/

In this episode, you'll hear from Joana Alves, a Portuguese Alumni international student at Seattle University. She majored in International Studies and was a student-athlete at SU (in the basketball team). As an international student, she reflects on the different difficulties she faced, like adapting to new manners and styles of interacting with faculty members, a new academic style, and platform (Canvas), as well as doing all the work she had in English. She reflects on the different supports she got from her SU Basketball teammates, staff, and faculty members in general, which she so grateful for. She shares how she is and always will be proud to be an international student and a student-athlete at SU, as she learned a lot from it. She is currently living in Spain, where she is playing professional Basketball. 

Additional resources:

Seattle University Athletics: https://goseattleu.com/

Seattle University Recreation Sport Clubs: https://www.seattleu.edu/recreation/sport-clubs/

In this episode, you'll hear from Nathalie Murumbi, a Zimbabwean international student at Seattle University. She a transfer student from Bellevue College, and she is a Senior student majoring in Accounting. As an international student, she reflects on the different struggles she faced when she first came to the US like her English accent, even though she is a first language speaker.  She reflects on how depressed she was and how participating in school events helped her to cope and know about USA culture. Going through all those challenges helped her to realize how capable and strong she is.  She shares pieces of advice that SU students and staff can use to improve international students' lives.  

In this episode, you'll  hear from Joao Pedro De Almeida, a Brazilian international student at Seattle University. He is a junior student majoring in Political Science and government. As an international student, he shares his experience by explaining how he experienced culture shock regarding the US's greeting styles, which was different from his home country (Kisses on the cheeks Versus a handshake or a simple smile. He reflects on how homesick he felt and how he had to call his mother to feel better. He adjusted by hanging out and spending time with his friends with whom he considers his family. Being an international student here in the US helped him realize his past error and open himself more to new people. His advice to international students is "never lose your values from your home country." Going to law school is Joao's next step after his bachelor's at SU. 

In this episode, you'll hear from Christiana Tembo, a Congolese International Student at Seattle University. She is a Senior student majoring in Electrical and Computer Engineering. She reflects in her first impression of the USA by talking about the weather and the smell by saying, "everything smelled like coffee, and I don't know why." As an international student, she reflects on the different things she faced and had to adjust to, like small talks and professors' friendly relationship with their students in the classrooms, which she wasn't used to. Also, how she felt homesick as she missed things from her country (family, friends, food, etc..). She shares how getting involved in school helped her to adjust. Being an international student helped her to realized how strong she is. Her advice to a current and future international student is not to be afraid and keep learning new things. 

Additional resources:

International Student Center: https://www.seattleu.edu/isc/

Getting involve at SU: https://www.seattleu.edu/cce/volunteer/

In this episode, you'll hear from Sera Bakaji, an International Student at Seattle University. She is from the Democratic Republic of Congo (Congo Kinshasa), and she is a current senior majoring in Environmental studies. She reflects on the different challenges she had to face while studying and living in the USA, such as learning a new language, a new academic style, and going through homesickness. She believes that she wouldn't be the person she is today if she didn't go through all those difficulties. Being an international student in the USA taught her to be more independent and not to fear any changes or situations. Her good advice to current and Future SU international students is to "not give up no matter what and to believe in yourself." 

Additional resource:

International Student Center: https://www.seattleu.edu/isc/

In this episode, you'll hear from Jasmine Bupe, the host and creator of this IS and Proud (International Student and Proud). You'll learn about her, what project IS and Proud is about, the reason and thought behind it, and the impact it plans to leave on its listeners.