"The word 'spicy' in America means something different from what I call spicy," Armah explained. "American spicy is just hot; it will burn you. In Ghana, the food will burn you, but it will burn you the right way. For example, you can burn yourself with a matchstick or you can feel the burn after a work-out."
Ali Khan '08 also instinctively dumps Tabasco sauce all over his food in Valentine in an attempt to simulate the spicy cuisine that he is accustomed to in Bombay, India.
However, international students experience cultural differences that extend beyond food. Many of these students must learn to overcome communication barriers. Jonathon Andicoechea '09, a student from Guatemala, noted that language is one adjustment. "The thing that has been most difficult has been communication. I'm perfecting my English," he said. Andicoechea is not alone in his struggle to perfect a second language.
As a first-year, Khan struggled to meet the analytical writing standards of his professors. Hoping to ease this struggle for other international students, he plans to develop a writing workshop in conjunction with the Writing Center that will acquaint students with the College's standards.
Beyond food and language barriers, a number of international students occasionally observe a lapse in others' knowledge about their home cultures. Anoop Menon '07, the International Students Association (ISA) chair, said cultural complexities that seem obvious to him often require explaining to others: "One of the funniest questions for me is, 'So, Anoop, do you speak Indian?' Then I go through the motions of explaining how India is a very diverse country culturally and linguistically."
Similarly, when Allison St. Brice '08 tells people that she is from Trinidad and Tobago, she knows that she is likely to receive a blank look in response.
Furthermore, instinctive and seemingly trivial habits to American students such as greeting others often bewilder non-American students. "[International students] find it funny that people ask 'How are you?' and don't mean it," said Konrad Turski '07, who was born in Poland but raised in the U.S.
The laid-back, informal environment and the easy accessibility to peer advocates and other student leaders came as a surprise to a number of international students. Many were shocked at the ongoing discussion during orientation week about safe sex.
Such openness was new for Roshni Rathi '08, who arrived here from India. The ongoing discussion of sex on campus was initially shocking for her. "That was a big deal, actually," Rathni '08 recalled. "[Sex] wasn't completely ignored back home, but it wasn't so openly discussed either."
At the same time, to students, who grew up in more open cultures, the discussion of sex seems superfluous. Such a wide range of responses suggests the diversity on campus. "The same issue can appear shocking to one international student and very provincial to another," said Associate Dean of Students Frances Tuleja, whose responsibilities include advising international students.
Unlike many American students who have access to alcohol for the first time upon arriving at college, students who come from countries with a lower or nonexistent drinking age do not regard alcohol as such a novelty.
Juliet Tan '08, who hails from Singapore where the legal drinking age is 18, said that the drinking culture is more low-key back home. "When people drink at home, it is more social," Tan said. "We sit around, talk, chill out. Alcohol isn't the focus of the party."
Whatever their cultural differences, a vital and enriching process of exchange arises from interacting so closely with people from diverse backgrounds. Turski stressed the intellectual growth nurtured by this exchange. "International students are a resource for Amherst to be able to study themselves, to know themselves, to see themselves as American students and what that means in the world," he said.
Khan, who is also the junior chair of ISA, added that ISA does not cater only to international students and would like to see greater involvement on the part of American students.
International students gain much from their experiences living in the U.S. Numerous students expressed the desire to transplant the unique benefits of an Amherst education to their home countries, in particular the supportive and responsive administration and the freedom to make individual choices about education.
Students respond differently to what they would take home with them. When asked, Armah joked, "Dollars." Qingsi Zhu '08 cited the legal system and market economy in America as something he would like to bring back to his hometown of Shanghai. "America has a very mature legal system here and respect for law and order. China has a very complicated, well-established law, but it is not respected," Zhu said. "I understand how things work here. This is a paradigm for a market economy. This will give me an advantage when I return home."
Bogdan State '09, a student from Romania, replied, "If I could move this college to Romania, that would be nice."