International students speak

Three international students spoke with a group of 20 fellow students receiving ICE credit Wednesday evening at the Student Activity Center mezzanine.

As pictured from left to right were Pavithra Padala, Giuseppe Cimino and Kanna Suzuki, from India, Italy and Japan, respectively.

As part of welcoming America, the office of international programs hosted this international student panel. After introductions, each student showed slides of, and talked about their home country.

Beyond discussing the parts of the country each hailed from, some topics touched on were Hindu and Moslem wedding customs, American misconceptions about Italian foods, and Asian stereotypes.

According to Liz Dille, international student advisor, USC Aiken has 45 students from abroad.

Much was revealed about these three in the question and answer session. All indicated they would stay in the U.S. if they could, despite the challenge of current immigration laws.

At times their internal conflicts were revealed. Padala liked traveling on empty roads here with little or no traffic but didn’t like that getting around without a car was impossible and missed being surrounded by large families.

Cimino found the guidance and structure in both education and business here very satisfying to live with, while conforming to a 5:00 A.M. sports practice time not so. He also missed times to be without an agenda or to walk without being on a mission.

Suzuki, coming from a formal cultural background was overwhelmed with all the hugging here in situations where there would be no more than a wave in Japan. She admits to not yet having mastered the art of appropriate hugging.

All three foreign students considered pizza made in America substandard.