IEP News

CULTURE SHOCK

by María José Araceli Biong Bill ("Aino), class 541
from Equatorial Guinea, Africa

Needless to say, studying in other country is something that attracts many students all around the world. Most people make the decision of traveling because they have heard a lot about that place or because they know that is a very famous city. In fact, I traveled to this country with the understanding that everything would be as I had seen so many times on TV, full of famous people and really exciting, but I had some terrible experiences that I will never forget.

My first experience was in the airport after leaving Spain. I landed in New York. In my entire life, I had not been in a big airport like JFK. I was so scared. All my life I had traveled with my family, so that was the biggest reason for my fear. Moreover, it was extremely cold, and I missed my flight, so I had to sleep in one of the airport hotels. It was -2 degrees centigrade, whereas my country has a much higher temperature, like California on a summer morning. I had to wait around 30 minutes outside for the bus. I thought I was going to die. I was freezing! I wanted to cry, but understood that nobody was going to help me if I started acting like a child. It was a terrible beginning.

After New York, I arrived here in LA. The weather was so nice, and the guy who picked me up at the airport, Patrick, was so friendly that I started feeling better. One hour and thirty minutes later, we arrived at the UCR Extension. He left me there, and he went home. I had to wait 5 minutes for the RA on duty for registration. That day was Christina’s shift, so she took me to my room later. However, once I got to my room, I felt like I was in jail: I spent two whole days without going out. I had no food in my stomach, and I was really hungry. I enclosed myself in a strong armor looking for protection. That was when I discovered that life can be really cutting. I was starting to learn how living alone in a different country, far away from your family and friends can be difficult.

One week later, an older woman from my country, Pepita, led me to a church located close to the extension, 10 minutes by foot. I was feeling gloomy and thought I was going to find a little peace at church. However, after the service, outside the church, everybody started asking me questions. At first, I got mad because in my country, it is not normal for strange people whom you do not know to interact with you like that, but later I felt comfortable because I thought that it was an opportunity to meet people.

In summary, my experiences could have been horrifying, but I learned many things from them. Sometimes I look at the past six months and feel like I have lived one hundred years and, like my grandma, have a lot of experiences to share. Although I still feel alone, I know that this is a great chance to be me, to learn to be myself without a mother.

 

 

Dongseo University
Monday, August 22, 2005
11 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Conf. Room B

Returning Students Registration
Tuesday, August 23, 2005
2-5 p.m.
Conf. Room E

Yeungnam University
Wednesday, August 24, 2005
11 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Conf. Room A

TESOL Luncheon
Wednesday, August 24, 2005
11 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Conf. Room C

Certificate Award Ceremony
August Conversation
Thursday, August 25, 2005
2:15-2:45 p.m.
Conf. Room A

EIB Presentations
Thursday, August 25, 2005
2:15-5 p.m.
Room TBA

GBM Certificate Ceremony
Friday, August 16, 2005
3:15-4 p.m.
Conf. Room A

 

DANCE

Cinderella
The beloved childhood fairy tale comes to life in this elegant ballet which portrays the romantic story of how true love turns a lonely girl into a beautiful princess.

Redlands Bowl August 19, 2005
25 Grant Street 8:15 p.m.
Redlands, CA 92373 Free event

Project R.O.A. Ressurection of Art
Project R.O.A. is a non-profit dance troupe that performs local, site-specific dance pieces in the city of Riverside.

Riverside Public Library August 24, 2005
3581 Mission Inn Ave. 6:30 p.m.
Riverside, CA 92501 August 27, 2005
1 p.m., 6:30 p.m.
Free event

ART

Faster: The Pomona Dags
Curated by Doug McCulloh, Faster examines the risk-taking culture of speed found in Drag Racing Photography from the Pomona Raceway in the 1960’s.

UCR / California Museum of Photography
3824 Main St.
Riverside, CA 92501

June 18 – October 2, 2005
12-5 p.m.
$1, free to students, seniors, and UCR/CMP members

Artscape Exhibition
The Artscape series is presented by the County of Riverside and the Riverside Arts Council as part of its Art in Public Places Program, which is dedicated to bringing art into non-traditional spaces and making it more accessible to people in their daily lives.

Riverside County Administrative Center
4080 Lemon Street
Riverside, CA 92501

July 21, 2005-January 31, 2006
Monday through Friday
9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Free event

MUSIC

Classic Rock by the Mixed Nuts
Riverside Plaza Main Street August 20, 2005
Riverside Plaza Drive 7 p.m.
Riverside, CA 92506 Free event

Andean Music
The Central Andean regions of the countries of Ecuador, Peru, Bolivia, Argentina, and Chile are among the richest in the world with regard to variety of musical and folkloric traditions.

Riverside Plaza Main Street August 26, 2005
Riverside Plaza Drive 7 p.m.
Riverside, CA 92506 Free event

The Phil at Fairmount Plays Pops in the Park 2
The Pops in the Park with our own Patrick Flynn as music director includes Dan Bernstein, featured columnist of the Press-Enterprise who will be guest narrator for “Tubby the Tuba.” Bring your lawn chairs and picnic baskets.

Fairmount Park August 28, 2005
2601 Fairmount 6 p.m.
Riverside, CA 92501 Free event

Taiko Drumming
Riverside Plaza Main Street August 19, 2005
Riverside Plaza Drive 7 p.m.
Riverside, CA 92506 September 2, 2005
7 p.m.
Free event
MUSEUMS

Site lines: 24 HR photographing Joshua tree
This exhibition documents the experience of 24 photographers who spent one single day at Joshua Tree National Park to explore its beauty and landscape.

UCR/California Museum of Photography
3824 Main St.
Riverside, CA 92501

June 18-October 2, 2005
Museum hours: 12-5 p.m.
$1, free to students, seniors, and UCR/CMP members
Native American day
To commemorate the strength and sacrifice of Native American people throughout the history of the Golden State, California has declared the fourth Friday in the month of September as Native American Day.

Agua Caliente Cultural Museum
219 S. Palm Canyon Drive
Palm Springs, CA

September 23, 2005
1-5 p.m.
Info Phone: (760) 778-1079

 

q San Francisco
http://www.sfvisitor.org/
http://www.gosanfranciscocard.com/

q Yosemite
http://www.yosemite.com/
http://www.yosemite.org/

q Joshua Tree National Park
http://www.palmspringsusa.com/joshua_tree.cfm?source=paid
http://www.joshuatreetraveler.com/

q Las Vegas
http://www.lasvegasnevada.gov/
http://govegas.about.com/

q Death Valley
http://www.nps.gov/deva/
http://www.deathvalley.com/

q Catalina Island
http://www.catalina.com/no_flash.html
http://www.catalinainfo.com/

q Palm Springs
http://www.ci.palm-springs.ca.us/
http://www.palm-springs.org/

q Mexico
http://mexico-travel.com/
http://www.mexicovisitorcenter.com/
http://www.mexonline.com/
* See the International Student Advisor in Room #236

q New York (East Coast)
http://www.iloveny.state.ny.us/
http://www.nytimes.com/pages/travel/
http://www.lets-do-newyorkcity.com/

 

 

More Information

Tel: (1-951) 827-4346 Fax:(1-951) 827-1074 ucriep@ucx.ucr.edu

About IEP - Programs - Dates & Fees - Services - Apply now - Agents - Languages