Adapting to New Environments

Summer is in full swing right now, and the idea of a new school year seems pretty far in the future for most of us. However, August will soon come around and we will all be making our way back to campus for another year at CLU! I will be a Junior when we return and I honestly cannot believe that I’m already in my third year, it’s insane! Time really has flown by and the terrifying prospect of “adulthood” gets ever closer…. However, I’m not talking about that today. I wanted to talk about how to adapt to your new environment, specifically as international students, who often face many more challenges the the residential students.

If the idea of getting on your first flight to the US, moving alone, or even just living with strangers for the first time is a daunting one to you do not worry, I feel you! It can be super scary at first, even more with the culture shock you face when arriving in the US. My advice to you would be to surround yourself with familiar things, whether its food from home, photos of people you cherish, or even just simple home comforts – make your home from home feel like just that! I’m so lucky to have the best friends around me who are also international students, and I think this is super important too. Without them, I would feel more alone because we RELATE to each other. We face similar struggles and therefore, you face them together. If you are wondering where to meet other fellow international students, come to the CGE! I’m usually there, along with loads of other friendly faces who will always be happy to talk to you and help you with any problems you may have 🙂 We also hold lots of fun events, as well as having peer mentor programs which are super helpful for new students! (I recommend this, it helped me loads!)

So, for now enjoy the rest of your summer! Be optimistic and look forward to the new school year, you will have the best time!!!

By: Sophie Davies

Opening a Bank Account

Attempt number something, I lost my count by now. It’s that thing where you want
to write something original, fun to read, not too shabby but each time you scribble you end up with something generic, redundant. My experiences as an international student might be different, may be useful however, one only watches the movies that are memorable to them and at this point I can’t tell if the things that are memorable to me would have the same effect on everyone else. So here I am going back to something that may actually be helpful (My experiences would be a good ice breaker when we all meet for the orientation.) How to open an account as an international student. (Yup fun fun !!)

STEP 1 – Finding the right bank for you:

Well so you travelled to the US, started school and used the card you brought with you to pay for all the different restaurants you are trying, movies you are watching and groceries you are buying. If you are like my parents, they made you figure out everything beforehand which includes finding a card that can work internationally so you won’t have to pay for the extra charges for international transactions. But what if you found a job on campus (Here you can find all the jobs on campus and here you can find the procedure to get a Social Security Number which would be the next step after you find a job.) For the paycheck to be deposited you need an American bank account. The first step to get an account is to find a suitable bank that will fulfill all your needs. Following is something I found that may help you decide the idle bank account for you.

STEP 2 – Documentation:

Now you have finalized the bank for your account, the next step is to go to figure out the closest bank branch location near you which would be CLU. I opened my account in Bank of America in 2019 back in NY when I first moved to the US, so I will be using BOA as an example. You will find all the information for BOA international student accounts here. Due to the pandemic most banks moved all their processing online, however as an international student it’s a better idea to physically present at the bank
location and provide all the necessary documents. (Yes, keep a bunch of copies of all the documents when you visit.) You may need the following information and documents for the bank account.

1) Home or permanent residence address:
This must include building name or number and street name, city or town, state or province, country.

2) U.S. physical address:
Only one of the following documents is needed:

– Government-issued ID with photo
– Student ID with address and photo
– Current utility bill with your name and address
– Other (rental agreement, etc.)

3 ) Primary ID:
Only one of the following documents is needed:

– Foreign passport with or without passport visa (with photo)
– U.S. Non Immigrant visa and Border Crossing Card-DSP-150 (with photo)
– Mexican, Guatemalan, Dominican, Colombian Consular ID (with photo)
– Canadian Citizenship Certificate Card (with photo)

4) Secondary ID:
Only one of the following documents is needed:

– Foreign driver’s license with photo or U.S. driver’s license
– U.S. student ID validated for current term or school year (with photo)
– Debit or major credit card with Visa® or Mastercard® logo
– Major retail credit card from a nationally well-known company
– U.S. Department of State Diplomat ID
– Mexican Voter Registration Card (with photo)

5) Foreign Tax Identification Number (FTIN):
An FTIN issued by a country other than the U.S. A U.S. TIN/ITN is not required unless you’ve been issued one. For me as I am from India, it was a PAN card. So, it may vary
from country to country.

This is the general documentation you would need, but it may vary from bank to bank. For Bank of America information you can go to this link.

Processing time for each bank may vary and you will receive the confirmation, your
debit card and other information from the bank through email after that. There will be some process to activate the card but it’s just a minor thing and you are good to go. Also, keep track of your account number and routing number. You will also have to
update the routing number and residential address if you move to a different place than you provided on the application. Having the BOA or any other application makes all these processes quite easy. You can also submit the checks online and will not have to deposit it at the bank.

So, there you have it. Most things you need to know for opening a bank account. I feel
light headed, but worth it !! Looking forward to meeting and talking to you all who made it this far. (Which I personally would never have made it to…)

Happy travels and welcome to CLU !!!!!!

By: Samar Salve

Meet Samar

My name is Samar Salve. I am an international student from India. I finished my Associate of Applied Science in Web Design at Genesee Community College, Batavia, NY and transferred to CLU for my Bachelor’s of Science in Computer Science.

As an international student you always need a clear guideline and direction not only when you are a student in university but also when you finish education and be part of the workforce. In terms of that guidance and experience not every college has the same stature. When I look at California Lutheran University and its programs to empower international students, I see myself in good hands. Events like lunar year celebration will be helpful to understand the multi-cultural background of university on the other hand events like U. S. job search for internationals will be helpful in building a career.

Even though I am an adult and still finishing my education I have not found my purpose. When I researched about the college, I realized everything the CLU is built around is what I am looking for. I do not know my purpose and I am afraid that it is too late to find it. But an assurance that I could still find it, make my life worthwhile by taking one step at a time does encourage me. I do wish to be part of a college where I will be reminded that I can do it and taken care of. That is why I wish to attend the California Lutheran University.

My first experience in the US education system was studying in Community College at GCC, Batavia. It was a smaller community college in terms of scale. Which also meant a smaller community closely bound together, where everyone knows each other. I was part of a community where I was not just a number but I had an identity. It was especially coming from a country like India where you are just another person in a vast population. At the end of the last semester, I was thinking about transferring to a bigger university. So I attended some lectures in the university around, and realized that I am going to be another number again. Transferring to CLU was a financial decision and I was afraid to lose my identity and become just a number. However, as opposed to my beliefs about a bigger university I found out that was not the case at all. From the time I travelled across the country to be part of the community at CLU I was regarded as a crucial part of the community. I got to meet amazing professors and fellow students. I participated in many online events, I was even able to become an RA.

Meet Chuong

My name is Chuong and I’m a sophomore studying hospitality management here at Cal Lu! I’m originally from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam but I did high school at Saint Augustine High School in San Diego, California before going to Cal Lu. Outside of school I spend my time making collage art, working out and recently picked up surfing.

I chose to attend Cal Lu mainly because of the location and size of the school. Having spent the most of my life in big cities like Ho Chi Minh and San Diego, I wanted to go to school in an area  that wasn’t too busy and was small enough that I could develop meaningful relationships with my classmates and professors. Since I am a hospitality major, being near a tourist center like LA or Malibu was also a perk for internships and professional networking.

As an international student, it can be especially hard to find your footing in a new environment. That’s why one of my favorite parts about Cal Lu is the community. From the moment I stepped on campus I felt welcomed and at home right away. Another thing is that since Cal Lu is a small school compared to others you really get to know everyone, including your professors.

For me, the biggest cultural difference would be the common phrases or expressions that people use here. For example, it’s normal for people to use “What’s up?” or “How’s it going?” as a greeting and it doesn’t necessarily mean they want to strike up a conversation. Another difference is that personal space is very important here. Everyone has their own little bubble and it’s always good to keep that in mind when you’re approaching someone.

By: Chuong Nguyen

Meet Mehar

My name is Harmehar Wadalia, but I prefer to be called Mehar. I am a Sophomore here at CLU with a major in Psychology and emphasis in clinical and behavioral applications. I was born in Punjab which is the northern part of India but I have spent most of my childhood in Burma otherwise known as Myanmar. I graduated from International School of Yangon which is an American based international school and wanted to pursue my future here in the States.

What inspired me to study here in CalLu was the overall community and how supportive everyone was of each other. I had talked to the representative of CLU and he had already made me feel so welcomed and that was something that stood out to me. Also in terms of my major I found CLU to be a great reputation. In addition, the faculty involved in this department really motivated me to pursue this career.

My favorite part about studying at CalLu would be how easy it is to communicate with faculty and other students. One of the benefits of being in small classes is getting the attention of the professor or even asking for help when it is needed. I also love how everyone is always engaged in discussions which helps to add onto my perspective of certain topics and also motivates me to learn more. In addition, in terms of the student body everyone is very supportive of one another and is always there to help when needed. I think that too plays a big part when it comes to being motivated.

Some cultural differences that I have experienced living in the US is how open everyone is with each other and how you will always find someone to help you out whenever you need it. Everyone is also very punctual when it comes to being on time. Another big difference is being independent and self motivated. In Asian culture, competition is very evident and us as students are always told to do better than the other person. However, here in the US it made me realize that it is okay to go at your own pace and to take your time and to focus on yourself.

By: Mehar Wadalia

Meet Thea

My name is Thea Holtlund Jacobsen, and I took a double major in Marketing Communications and Global Studies with a minor in Business Administration. I am from Oslo, Norway, and after studying in the US I have moved back to Oslo, where I currently work as a CRM Manager for an IT-company called FrontCore. I always knew I wanted to take my degree outside of Norway, as I wanted to experience something new and challenge myself. After some research I decided to study in the US, and there is a Norwegian association that provides scholarships through certain partnering colleges in the US. Cal Lutheran was one of them, and after looking into the other options I eventually decided that Cal Lutheran looked like the best fit for me.

My favorite part of studying at Cal Lutheran was the ease of forming meaningful relationships, not only with fellow students but with faculty and staff as well. There is a special community at Cal Lutheran, where everyone is open and wants to really get to know you. Professors are easy to talk to and encourage conversation, and it shows that they really do care about you and want you to succeed.

The cultural differences between Norway and the US are not all too big, but some things that are noticeably different is how the US is more of an individualistic and capitalist country. It is more of a “everyone for themselves” mentality, in terms of for example health care, filing taxes and government services, where you are expected to pay for yourself and handle it all yourself. This was challenging in the beginning, as these services are arranged and paid for by the government in Norway, but it was a good learning experience. I also experience Americans to be generally more outgoing than Norwegians, and that it is more socially accepted to stand out and go for whatever you want to do in the US.

By: Thea Jacobsen

Meet Sophie

Hi, my name is Sophie and I am a Political Science Major from the UK. I am a sophomore here at Cal Lutheran 🙂

I initially wanted to come to CalLu because my brother was already a student here and I saw how much he enjoyed it. However, I also realized how different Cal Lu was from my other options. It’s a smaller school and therefore, I felt like it would be easier to settle here and make friends more quickly. It also felt like it would be less overwhelming especially since I am coming from so far away!

My favorite part would have to be how connected everything feels, from the class sizes to the interaction you get with the professors, students, etc. You truly feel like you are not a number here, but a person. That’s really special!

There have been many cultural differences that I have experienced here. Some of the funniest and perhaps, most memorable ones include tipping servers in restaurants (and how much), the different words people use for certain things, the obsession for coffee over tea, also how far everything is from one place to the next! However in terms of culture, California isn’t too different from the UK except for the much better weather and beaches.

By: Sophie Davies