International Student Experience: Recent Episodes
International Student Experience
The ISE is a podcast where we listen to stories from our International Students, Faculty, Staff, Colleagues, and Friends. We will visit their home country and explore their culture, food, tourism, music, and social activities. In our Podcast, we are curious and love Storytelling. We hope you are too, and even if you are not..., we hope you will enjoy discovering our world! We are out every two weeks, on Friday, and we will visit places with our different Guests. ISE is a Family, and we are so happy you are here!
In this episode of the International Student Experience Podcast, Vlad sits down with Mo to discuss the realities of being an international student in the United States. From overcoming cultural shock to managing homesickness, Mo shares his personal journey and the lessons he has learned along the way. They explore the contrast between the American life depicted in movies and the real hustle and bustle of everyday life. Mo opens up about the financial pressures, the expectations from family back home, and how he found solace in new hobbies and friendships. Whether you're an international student or considering studying abroad, this episode is packed with insights and tips to help you navigate the challenges of life in a foreign country. Don't forget to like, comment, and subscribe for more stories and advice from international students around the world! 🌟
Topics Covered:
- Cultural Adjustments & Unlearning American Stereotypes
- The Reality of Work-Life Balance in the U.S.
- Coping with Homesickness & Finding Community
- The Financial Pressures on International Students
- How New Hobbies Can Help You Thrive Abroad
InternationalStudent #StudyAbroad #CultureShock #Homesickness #StudentLife #USCollege #Podcast"
In our latest episode, Mo shares a truly inspiring journey transitioning from an undergraduate in Algeria as a UGrad participant to an F1 student in the US, diving into his role in promoting cultural diversity and inclusion on campus. The discussion with our host, Vlad, uncovers numerous facets of navigating life as an international student while embracing and sharing one's heritage. Here are some invaluable takeaways:🌎 Cultural Exchange & Integration- Mo successfully initiated the celebration of Ramadan at Mercyhurst University, setting a precedent for integrating diverse cultural practices within the campus community.🏛️ Leadership in Action- Demonstrated leadership by organizing an International Day at Robert Benjamin Wiley Community Charter School, showcasing global cultures to local students and fostering global awareness.🔗 Building Community- Suggested that active involvement in campus events and government helps mitigate feelings of homesickness among international students by creating a sense of belonging and community.👉 Whether you're an international student, educator, or someone passionate about fostering inclusive environments, there's much to learn from Mo's journey and initiatives. Let's embrace and advocate for diversity, enhancing our communities for everyone!#InternationalStudents #CulturalDiversity #InclusiveEducation #Leadership #CommunityBuilding #isePodcast
Losing his scholarship due to COVID, Musa's international journey gets complicated; his university tells him he must leave, which means he must go back to Liberia. As an international student, this is the email you never, never, NEVER, NEVER want to read from your DSO.In today's episode, Musa delves into a narrative of struggle, support, and success that is both deeply personal and universally resonant.🎙️ Episode Highlights:- Financial Resilience During COVID: Musa opens up about the economic hardships faced during the pandemic and the invaluable support that got him through this challenging period.- Educational Challenge: Musa had to drop his Java class because his computer knowledge was limited.- Campus involvement as an international student: we sometimes shy away from different roles on campus because we think we are not suited for the position. We have to step out and try different things while we are students.
🌍 Discover Liberia with Elphena Joyce Elsar and Kaisa Musa
Elphena and Musa took us through their nostalgic trip to their homeland,giving us a tour of Liberia's landmarks, markets, mountains, rubber farms, theiconic St. Paul's bridge, and even a house shaped like the African continent!She also opens up about the stark transition from the Va tribe's vibrantculture to the new norms she faced immigrating to the US at 14, all whilemaintaining her identity.
🥘A Taste of Tradition
We delve into the intricacies of traditional Liberian dishes, from the cozy'torborgee' soup to the beloved 'potato greens,' 'cassava leaves,' and 'more.'Discover why rice is more than just a staple—it symbolizes home! And if you'renew to Liberian cuisine, don't miss Elphena's recommendation on the 'chuck ricegravy,' the perfect introduction for any palate.
💪 Strength, Struggle, and Success
Listen to Elphena's inspiring story of overcoming cultural shocks, bullying,and academic pressures. Please find out how her father's support and resilienceshaped her into a role model for her siblings and others. Elphena's testimonyis a powerful reminder of the importance of authenticity and perseverance.
🕊️Peace and Unity: The Liberian Way
Explore Liberia's rich history of religious tolerance, the role of Muslimsand Christians during the civil war, and how the harmonious blending of beliefscontributes to the country's unique culture.
💍Cultural Insights on Marriage & Family
Musa shares insights on arranged marriages and the significant role offamily approval in his culture. These discussions taught me the depth andrespect imbued within such traditions.
🏆Meet the Leadership Luminary: Kaisa Musa M. Kamara
Kaisa Musa, a shining beacon at Gannon University, talks about winning theaward for leadership in justice and service and his multifaceted roles invarious student organizations. His dedication to community and education isnothing short of inspirational.
And there's much more! ISE offers a podcast episode and a cultural tapestryinterwoven with humor, humanity, and heritage.
👂Listen now to "Episode One_Elphena's Trip to Liberia" and share thejourney with friends and family – it's an auditory escape you won't want tomiss!
Stay tuned for our next journey,
The ise Team
Links:
Music From: @Pixabay
Videos From: @Pixabay, @RakGhana, @WodeMAYA
Images from: Wikicommons, https://kqlcafrica.com/, https://www.okrapantry.com/2021/04/21/liberian-beans-torborgee/
In our final episode of Season 1, We delve into the fascinating story of Vischall. From Bafoussam, to Ngaoundere to Canton and finally in Erie, Vischall shares how his different experiences shaped his life in America. As an international student, how was his student life in America? What type of jobs did he get when he was student? What was his major and how did that affect his life in America?
Get ready to embark on a captivating journey of cultural exchange, personal growth, and the pursuit of academic excellence. So sit back, relax, and let's dive into this captivating
Nada's Experience in the USA… what is a Fulbright, how does the Fulbright program work, and how long is the Fulbright. How did Covid affect the Fulbright year? Why is the program helpful? We also talked about her culture shock and how I used to convert each amount I spent. Nada's experience is entirely different, and it was a pleasure to know her and her experience in the USA.
Of course, there is no ISE without traveling; she said that, New York had some Cairo vibe, and she went to LA, DC, FL, and Cleveland. As an international, sharing our culture and being curious about others' cultures is essential.
Enjoy Today's episode.
ISE, Let's Go Home.
See You on the ISE Airline for more.
Instagram: @_iseworld
Music: ANGWA
Let’s go to Egypt, مصر, misr. This country is on my bucket list; you will know why today. Nada Soliman is a Fulbright lecturer, and during her time in Erie, PA, I had the opportunity to interact with her and discover her country. This episode explores Egypt, its culture, music, cuisine, and tourism. We recorded during the Ramadan period and asked Nada to share her Ramadan experience in Egypt, and how, if any, it is different in the US.
In this first part, we see Egypt through her eyes; we went to some interesting touristic areas, and I will encourage you to google those places for a preview.
- Egyptian museum,
- Cairo,
- Alexandria library,
- Cairo Tower,
- Cairo Opera House,
- Siwa Oasis (I will visit this place)
There is no ISE episode without our culinary experience. Nada recommendations:
- Mulukhiyah,
- Mahshi,
- Koshary,
- fabulous Kahk,
We also talk about Egyptian music and her favorite artist Umm Kulthum, a unique artist with a fantastic voice, so Angelique.
Thanks for your support and your Love
Spotify: https://lnkd.in/gEV3xhii
Apple Podcast: https://lnkd.in/g_hv2W7v
Website: https://anchor.fm/ise65
Instagram: @_iseworld https://www.instagram.com/_iseworld/
Music: https://angwa.bandcamp.com/releases
After being in Italy, Nigeria, England, Junior comes to the US to pursue his post secondary education, thanks to Basketball. What were his first impressions, did he find any cultural shock, what did he love the most in the different States he visited.
Music is the hardest class Junior ever took, I was confused but he tell us why. We also talk about the tipping culture in US and the different country he has being. Do you think tipping is a universal culture? let us know what you think.
Spoiler Alert:
His first cultural shock was is Nebraska, state, and he went to Walmart and saw aa isle of guns and he wondered if he went to the right store. But why would a Walmart store have an isle of guns, that's the question I asked myself, Junior then explains why it was like that.
No more spoiler Alert, Enjoy our trip to the with Junior Oscar.
Instagram: @_iseworld
Music: ANGWA
This Episode was recorded before any major events that took place, We apologize if there is any language or memory that may affect you. Thank You.
In the first part of our journey Junior Oscar, born in Italy, spend some years in Nigeria before moving to England talks about the different cultures he was exposed and how they helped him adjust in his life. We learned what a real Italien pizza looks and taste like, we talk about the famous "aggegge" bread of Nigeria and if you are of that generation, he shares his love for glass bottle soda. If you know you know. As part of our trip we visited England, Junior encourages us to visit London, the docks in Liverpool, if you love cycling, Cambridge is the place to be. If you would like to explore more, he encourages us to visit Scotland. Enjoy the episode and let us know what you think, we would like to here from you.
ISEEEE... Let's Go Home.....
aggegge bread: https://www.google.com/search?q=agege+bread&rlz=1C5CHFA_enUS970US970&sxsrf=APwXEdd8GDi29ZZdJWl0Q-2yzDHAb5Uj2g:1680062815309&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiB7LnaoYD-AhUVFVkFHb55DZcQ0pQJegQIBRAC&biw=1920&bih=887&dpr=1
Instagram: @_iseworld https://www.instagram.com/_iseworld/
Music: https://angwa.bandcamp.com/releases
Welcome to part II
This episode was one of the most challenging ones I ever had to do. Having three different ISEIANS visiting two different but very similar countries, you wonder why? embark on another adventure with me, where we visit Colombia with Sofia and El Salvador with Alessandra and Carmen.
From childhood friends from one country to attending the same university in another country, friendship is fantastic.
Our journey starts in El Salvador; Carmen and Ale shared their love for their country, Pupusas, and Pastelitos de Chucho. We also visited these amazing places; Lago de Coatepeque and Volcan de Santa Ana.
After our fantastic stay in El Salvador, we went to Colombia with Sofia, and of course, our first stop was the cuisine; we discovered Chocolate Con Queso and Pandebono, and there is a lot more. We visited San Andreas, Cartagena, Cali, Medellin.
While in Colombia, you can see the Atlantic and the Pacific Oceans.
Such amazing things to do in both countries, and the beauty is just another level. Hopefully, you enjoy our travels of today, and don’t forget to share, follow, like… enjoy
ISE, Let's travel.
See You on the ISE Airline for more.
Instagram: @_iseworld
Music: ANGWA
This episode was one of the most challenging ones I ever had to do. Having three different ISEIANS visiting two different but very similar countries, you wonder why? embark on another adventure with me, where we visit Colombia with Sofia and El Salvador with Alessandra and Carmen.
From childhood friends from one country to attending the same university in another country, friendship is fantastic.
Our journey starts in El Salvador; Carmen and Ale shared their love for their country, Pupusas, and Pastelitos de Chucho. We also visited these amazing places; Lago de Coatepeque and Volcan de Santa Ana.
After our fantastic stay in El Salvador, we went to Colombia with Sofia, and of course, our first stop was the cuisine; we discovered Chocolate Con Queso and Pandebono, and there is a lot more. We visited San Andreas, Cartagena, Cali, Medellin.
While in Colombia, you can see the Atlantic and the Pacific Oceans.
Such amazing things to do in both countries, and the beauty is just another level. Hopefully, you enjoy our travels of today, and don’t forget to share, follow, like… enjoy
ISE, Let's travel.
See You on the ISE Airline for more.
Instagram: @_iseworld
Music: ANGWA
In today's episode, we visit two countries in one day, which is only possible through ISE. We will be in France and Nigeria with Adekunle David Akinpetide. The first thing I learned was how to pronounce his last name "Akinpetide." We talk about both the French and Nigerian cultures. David shares his experience when he first went to Nigeria and how excited he was. We spoke about Ghana and Nigeria's Jollof and tried to settle the debate about which country has the best Jollof; Jollof is a fantastic African dish. We talked about some of his favorite food and explored more food. He shares some of France's best touristic sites: Arc of triumph, Parc des Prince, Trocadéro, champs d’Élysée, and Roland Garos.
David shared his sports story; he started playing football(soccer) and tennis simultaneously. How?
He has a fun story about how he finally decides to play tennis instead of football(soccer).
David was a student Athlete at Mercyhurst university, and he shares his experience as a student and an athlete.
ISEIANS, enjoy our trip today and have fun… thanks…
Instagram: @_iseworld
Music: ANGWA
Today's podcast offers an ISEIANS that is not international but participated in the Mercyhurst Study Abroad program in Ireland. But before we take our flight to Ireland, she gives us a fantastic tour of her hometown, Rochester, NY. The first one we visited was Lake Ontario; next was the Rochester City skyline provides a gorgeous view of the sunset. Eastman school of music. If you love Lilac, Rochester has one of the lilac festivals where all the lilac trees bloom. She talks about her first impression of the Dublin airport, visited the Guinness factory, and many other areas. Lily shared her experience participating in the Saint Patrick event and how different it was from what she had experienced before.
Let me let you enjoy your trip with Lily Smith.
ISE, Let's travel.
See You on the ISE Airline for more.
Instagram: @_iseworld
Music: ANGWA
After our amazing trip to Saint Petersburg, hopefully you loved it, today we are visit g another country and another culture. Our friend Mo, is taking us into Algerian cuisine, where we talk about couscous, lamb meat. If you have never listen to Algerian Raï, Mo gives us some recommendations, Cheb Mami. Rama’s Ight or Algerian Berber is the native language in Algeria even thought they have French as official language. Arabic is another popular language but Algeria Arabic is different as it includes some French word in it.
The great mosque of Algiers aka Djamaa El Djazaïr, Timgad - an ancient roman,
His love for languages and tourism allow him to adjust very easily in his new environment. Visiting Chicago, going to the Niagara fall and one day in Erie, Mo takes an Uber and his Uber driver is from Algeria. An amazing story… No spoiler, enjoy our episode of today….
See You on the ISE Airline for more.
Instagram: @_iseworld
Music: ANGWA
Kristina is a Fulbright lecturer from Saint Petersburg, Russia. In this visit we discover some Russian Cuisine, Borshch, Black Bread, Shashlik Olivia Russian Salad. a Saint Petersburg lover and former tour guide Kristina provides us with a list of activities and places that we should do and visit. The Komarovo beach, Cruiser Aurora, The Amber Room, The white nights of Saint Petersburg, Museum of Political History, we aslo talk about the Kremlin Architecture and the oldest city of Russia, which is Murmansk.
During our visit we Kristina gave us her top 5 states in the USA and her top 5 Cities in the world.
See You on the ISE Airline for more.
Instagram: @_iseworld
Music: ANGWA
Prabhat is actually my very first interview and for this interview I decided to let you, ISIANS enjoy how the recording of our first episode went. In the episode we discover where Pro is from, We also learned what it feels like to have both China and India as neighboring countries. Pro talks about his undergrad life and the bargain he had with his parent before coming to the US. We visited places such as; Pokhara and of course there is no ISE podcast without some culinary discovery. One of Pro's favorite dish is Momo, but he shares a lot more on the dishes he loves.
See You on the ISE Airline for more.
Spotify: https://lnkd.in/gEV3xhii
Apple Podcast: https://lnkd.in/g_hv2W7v
Website: https://anchor.fm/ise65
Instagram: @_iseworld
Valentine- Vale is the current Mercyhurst International Student Association president in today's episode. She is from France, precisely "in the podcast." With Vale, we visit some unique and unforgettable spots in the city of Paris. We visited:
- l'Hotel de Ville,
- Les jardin des Tuileries,
- la rue de faubourg saint honore.
Regarding cuisine, Cheese lovers, welcome to the Vale cheese connection:
- selles-sur-Cher cheese, Mimolette cheese,
- le P’tit Basque cheese,
- La raclette,
- Valencay cheese,
Vale talks about her family's remarkable champagne history and her presidency as the ISA president. Jump in the ISE Airline, and let's visit places.
Website: https://anchor.fm/ise65
Instagram: @_iseworld
Enjoy the travel.
In today's episode, we have one of my friends; we've been to the same university in Cameroon and the US. Alex is a PKFokam Institute of Excellence, SUNY Canton and Mercyhurst Univesity Alumn. He has a BBA and Master's in Data Science. He first starts by sharing the history behind his name. We also talk about why Cameroon is known as Africa Miniature.
- Alex talks about how to involve in the different festivals they have in Bayangam and the importance of heritage.
- He shares the name of his native language, Ghomala.
- Of course, there is no podcast without us exploring the culinary culture of Cameroon. He talks about Taro, Kondre Chèvre.
- He also shares how involve he was in his different communities.
I won't tell you much.
Enjoy the travel 🥹
Links:
Spotify: https://lnkd.in/gEV3xhii
Apple Podcast: https://lnkd.in/g_hv2W7v
Website: https://anchor.fm/ise65
Instagram: @_iseworld
In today's episode, we visit a great country, Ireland, with a fantastic tour guide, Marina Boyle. Marina is a Mercyhurst Alumni who studied Business & Competitive Intelligence, International Hospitality, and Tourism, and a minor in Pre-Law Studies. For my first time in Ireland, honestly she was the best tour guide I could ask for.
Spoiler Alert:
- Her favorite dish is Fish and Chips
- The origin of St Patrick and how it is celebrated in Ireland
- Some of her favorite touristic places to visit: The Guinness museum, Cliffs of Moher, The Titanic museum
- We also talk about Northern Ireland, amazing story....
Vlad stop being a spoiler and let our ISEIANS discover, so hopefully, you enjoyed your visit to Ireland and Marina's American Experience.
We also want to know your point of view, so please feel free to comments, leave reviews or email us.:
email: iseee7777@gmail.com
Follow us on Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/_iseworld/
If you loved the music in the backgroud, here is the link for you:
ANGWA: http://angwa.bandcamp.com
In this first solo episode of the International Student Experience podcast (ISE), Vlad gives us an overall tour of the ISE world. He tells us what we will cover on our different trips; hopefully, you will not realize his craziness. Hahaha. We also took a quick trip to his home country, Cameroon, and discovered some Cameroonian culture, cuisine, tourism sectors, and social activities. Vlad talks about his favorite Cameroonian dish, Ndole, and talks about Makossa, a Cameroonian music genre. Unfortunately, we also saw how crazy Vlad is; sorry for that. Hahaha
In ISE we just love visiting places, so hope you are ready for our upcoming trips.
Follow us:
https://www.instagram.com/_iseworld/
email:
iseee7777@gmail.com
Background Music:
https://angwa.bandcamp.com/releases
Cameroonian Dish Link:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tHsOyXl971I
Cameroonian Makossa:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dX2bwb6H4Os