Move-in day: After a long day of carrying all the necessary equipment a first-year student needs for survival (laundry basket, sheets and a poster showing the many different kinds of cocktails one can make with orange juice), the exhausted 18 year olds sit in a circle around their RA.
As they move from person to person, participating in the often cheesy ice breakers, they exchange names. Suddenly, they pause.
A distinct voice, heavy, with an accent says a name. People awkwardly try to repeat the name as the accented voice corrects them with a smile. After a few tries everybody manages to get the hang of it, and they concentrate on the origin of the name.
Although the student's accent slowly gets Americanized, her foreign name sticks.
This year, the exotically accented new international members of the University compose 5 percent of the Class of 2007, representing approximately 70 countries. Each student in this unique group of first years has a lot more to get used to than most American students. In addition to the rapidly-paced university life, international students must make an adjustment to the American lifestyle.
The Lorna Sundberg International Center offers programs such as the International Community Host Program, which assigns a local family to a new student to provide him or her with a family environment in Charlottesville.
Another option for international students is the International Student Host Program, which matches an older student at the school with the incoming international students for any support or counseling they might need while adjusting.
Although the University provides international students with programs such as these, it usually is up to the student to deal with new everyday adjustments to life a l'Américaine. First and foremost comes the language barrier.
Though fluent in English, most international students find themselves speaking English 24 hours a day for the first time.
"Sometimes in class I prefer to stay quiet if there is a hot debate going on, because I am scared that I might not be able to keep up," said Yasemin Erseven, a first-year College student from Turkey.
And what about outside of the classroom?
"Certain slang words, I just don't get it," said Edgar Fernandez, a first-year College student from Costa Rica. "Certain jokes just don't make sense."
So what about that magical English word "football?"
"I personally don't get why soccer isn't called 'football' here, you only use your feet," Erseven said. "What else could you call it?"
Despite the word confusion, Erseven said she enjoys the games of "football" as perceived here the States.
First-year College student Jennifer Gong, a true continent hopper who was born in China and grew up in Canada and later Singapore, said she is happy to see such a spirit here that reminds her of the soccer games in Singapore.
"It's even better because Singapore never wins, Gong said. "It's good to see U.Va. win."
Fernandez said he easily relates to being excited about an athletic event because of the soccer fanaticism at home.
"But the games are less crazy here," Fernandez said. "Everything is more organized and nobody fights."
Although Fernandez makes up for the soccer excitement in the football games, he can't say the same for the food.
"A lot of the food is more fried than I am used to so I try to find people from my part of the world to cook with," he said.
Erseven agreed.
"I miss shish kebabs so much," she said.
Not everyone seems to mind the food, however.
"I am not picky and also the Mexican food is so good in cafeteria," Gong said.
Another issue among the international student population is the lack of night clubs and restrictions on the drinking age.
Many students don't face such restrictions in their home countries.
"I live in a big city [Bogota], so it's hard for me to get used to here," said first-year College student Jacklin Lemoine, a native Colombian. "Because of the restriction, I can't even go to a bar just to dance."
Fernandez, however, said he sees the parties on the infamous Rugby Road as an alternative to the discos and clubs of his Latin American homeland.
"It is a different atmosphere to get used to," he admitted. "The drinking age in Costa Rica is 18, so the nights are different."
Apart from the night life, these big city kids also are adapting to the "energetic" life in Charlottesville -- just like the residents of large American cities.
Lemoine shares the resentment with American first years of not being allowed to have cars.
"Not having cars is really hard," Lemoine said. "There are no easier alternatives to go to Washington, D.C. or Williamsburg to get out of Charlottesville."
Born and raised in Istanbul, a metropolis with 12 million people, Erseven is concerned about variety.
"After some time, I will start to feel very constricted," Erseven said. "There isn't that much to do in Charlottesville and The Corner is starting to lose its touch."
Maybe the most difficult task the international students face while getting accustomed to the United States is the human relationships.
While Fernandez commented on how dating proceeds quicker here, Lemoine said people in America are less affectionate.
"People are not touchy," Lemoine said. "Nobody kisses or hugs each other."
Erseven said she can relate to Lemoine.
"It is hard to get used to just shaking hands when you see people," Erseven said. "In Turkey we always hug and kiss. People are more reserved in their friendships here."
Gong also has observed an aspect of the American society that feels different than her Asian culture.
"People are so much more frank," Gong said. "You don't say what you really think out loud in Asia."
From her professional point of view, Rebecca Brown, director of the International Studies office, emphasized the importance of developing a social life.
"It is also important that the student shouldn't isolate him/herself," Brown said.
Brown emphasized the importance of joining clubs and organizations to get used to the school and meet people in other than one's own comfort zone.
Erseven seems to be on the right track. She has joined groups like Fashion Club and the European Society to "branch out of her Turkish bubble," she said.
Brown also warned that there are "hard times ahead," saying that the majority of international students go through a "culture shock curve" that starts up high as the student gets used to all the new things. Then the slope gradually declines as homesickness sneaks in when all the excitement is over, Brown said. The slope usually goes back up, however, after the first trip home.
Whether it's trying to figure out what on earth a "beer bong" is, eating Swedish meatballs that don't taste Swedish at all or coping with homesickness as everybody else heads home for Thanksgiving, the first-year international students all are reciting the lyrics of a James Brown song:
"I live in America hey --
I know what it means, ... Living in America -- so nice, with your bare self Living in America -- I feel good!"
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