Analysis | Chapman's international student population discuss their transitions, experiences moving across the world

Three International students — Timea Steingart, Alejandra Chow and Jiya Kathuria, share their stories of adjusting to life at Chapman University. Photo by DANIEL PEARSON, staff photographer

In the 2021/22  academic year, more than 900,000 international students came to the U.S. Each year, Chapman University welcomes approximately 6% of the student population as international students from diverse regions across the world. 

When coming from thousands of miles away, the transition can come with both adversities and new opportunities. 

Timea Steingart, a first-year political science major from Berlin, felt welcomed with open arms when moving across the country.

“When I was younger, I felt intimidated by the enormity and unfamiliarity of the United States,” Steingart told The Panther. “Today, I feel inspired by its enormity — enormity in possibility, connections and experiences.” 

Steingart said professors and students at Chapman have shown interest, understanding and genuine care for her.

“From studying late at night in the library to personal training in the gym to hiking in the mornings,” Steingart said. “I take nothing for granted, and I am forever grateful.”

Before starting at Chapman, Steingart had spent several years of her childhood in Washington, D.C. According to Steingart, when she moved to the U.S. at four years old, she was taken out of her bubble and was exposed to a new culture, language, society and political system. 

Despite the language barrier and finding her way in a new country, Steingart made Washington, D.C. feel like home.

“I spent most of my childhood in Germany, yet I never stopped dreaming about coming back to the United States,” Steingart told The Panther. 

She felt welcomed when arriving at Chapman, but she had to overcome some difficulties like learning information that was not part of her education system back home. 

“It was imperative that I caught up on the intricacies of the U.S. political system, the rulings of the various courts and the structure of U.S. institutions,” Steingart said.  “Yet, that education was rewarding.”

Her unfamiliarity has turned into a sense of belonging.

“No matter who you are, there is always someone rooting for you,” Steingart said. 

Alejandra Chow, a senior finance major from Sinaloa, Mexico, said that she was attracted to the education system in the U.S., but the college application process was not easy. 

“I worked so hard, had no help, no college counselor, I had no SAT prep,” Chow told The Panther. “I was really behind because I did not go to school in English.” 

Within international systems, some areas are politically and socially similar to California, yet others differ.

“The biggest difference for me is the people, I was shocked at how different the culture is here and how people interact with each other,” Chow told The Panther. “There seems to be a loss in quality of life here, everything is at a faster pace — people live less in the moment.”

According to Chow, being an international student has been more challenging than she expected. However, she is also grateful for all the opportunities she has been given. 

“I have enjoyed being around people who are very career driven,” Chow said. “I love that my peers inspire me.”

Even though she had previously been to the east coast, Jiya Kathuria, a first-year political science major, had never been to California before transferring here from Gurgaon, India at the beginning of the spring semester. 

“A lot of the things are considered common knowledge here, but it’s entirely new to me — ranging from slang, pronunciations, events, eating habits, lifestyle choices,” Kathuria told the Panther. “It’s been absolutely wonderful.”

Kathuria says that she is looking forward to Chapman gradually feeling like home.

 “One of the best parts about being at Chapman is my ability to freely express and advocate for the things I believe in without fear of retaliation,” Kathuria said. 

Even though India’s constitution grants its citizens free speech, it is listed as 150 out of 180 nations on the Press Freedom Index created by Reporters Without Borders. 

“My favorite part about being an international student has definitely been the enrichment of my opinions and knowledge due to interaction with people who have diverse backgrounds,”,” Kathuria said. “I learn something new every day.”