Every semester, Elizabethtown College opens its doors to international students from around the world. Studying side-by-side with their U.S. counterparts, these student ambassadors bring a new perspective and awareness to the College.
Wednesday, Nov. 17 is recognized as International Students’ Day and the perfect time to learn more about the experiences of our current international students and learn why they chose Etown to be their home away from home!
Name
Reiji Ito
Class Year
2023
Major
International Business
Where are you originally from?
Japan
How did you find out about Etown and why did you decide to attend here?
I was studying Social Work at my previous college, but I wanted to switch my major to Business. I researched colleges and found that Etown has a good business program. Also, Etown is located at a good place. It is calm enough to study, but at the same time, I can go to some big cities around Pennsylvania, by train.
How has Etown helped you adjust to life as a college student in the U.S?
One of the hard things for international students is to make friends in their second language, but Etown offers many opportunities to have conversations with new people, like in First-Year Seminar (FYS). Also, my floor RA and faculty helped me a lot through classes and on a daily basis.
What’s something you would want people to better understand about being an international student at Etown?
It is not easy to talk to new people even in your first language, but it is even harder to talk to someone in your second language. Some international students look shy, but I do not think everyone is shy. They want to talk but they need time to understand English. So, it is great to talk to them with some patience.