Misconceptions about international Asian students in North America
No, not all of us are wealthy rich Asians from China
I’ve been living in Canada for the past 5 years of my life. I’ve experienced being an international student in The University of British Columbia, and completed the milestone of getting a Canadian bachelor’s degree. I’ve worked part-time and volunteer in different organizations in my community and I’m currently working a full-time job in a local company.
No I’m not trying to self-promote and flaunt my success here.
In fact, if anything, I wanna advice you to think twice before you decide to spend half a million on education.
But that’s not my point here today.
I’m here to share my life as an international Asian student, because as I mentioned in my previous article, not Asians are all the same, and we all have our own struggles and stereotypes that we have deal with.
Here are some of my insights:
When you mention that you’re from a country in Asia you’ll get-
“Woa your English is pretty good! How did you pick it up so easily?”
Well, some of us speak in English more than our national language in our home country, in case you didn’t know.
But sometimes, people don’t understand your English-
Because of your accent or slang(Malaysian in my case). Sien wei.
Or like when your ‘THREE’ sounds like ‘TREE’.
You get identity crisis-
Because people can never get your name right so you’ll have to create an ‘English’ name (e.g. Sally) or a pseudonym (e.g. rice lover chick), when your actual name, the one you relate with, the one you feel at ease with; is Lim Mei Mei.
And btw its last name, first name. Not the other way around. Also, we don’t have a middle name.
Visa issues are pretty common-
E.g. when is my visa due, when am I going to get my new visa, how much does it cost, do I need a new passport to fit all my freaking visas etc.
You’ll learn to live a minimalist life-
Because you’re as close to living a nomadic life with all the moving you have to do .
You’re constantly trumped with subconscious guilt-
Guilty that people here are constantly trying to look for part-time job to earn more money- to pay rent, tuition, personal expenses etc., while you spent $$$ on education alone and your parents tell you to just focus on your studies.
You’re not sure who to connect with-
Whether to stick to people with similar background (country of origin) or to make more local friends? But isn’t the whole point of leaving your home country to experience the local culture? But will I look ignorant as If I’m not acknowledging my home roots?
People question your relationship with your family and friends back home-
When people ask “Don’t you feel home-sick? Being so far away from home for so long…don’t you miss your family and friends?”
And you think to yourself: “Not really”
I mean isn’t that what one has to expect when one chooses to leave the country to live somewhere else?
Deciding for trips during the holidays can be stressful-
Should I go home or should I explore more of this country? (Inner dialogue: Should I go back and spend time with my family or should I make the most out of my experience in a new country?)
Life after graduation is the worst-
Should I stay or should I leave? Now that I’m no longer tied to being a student…
Where is home anymore?
5 years in, and I’m still learning to adapt, still getting out of my comfort zone, still figuring myself out, still constantly trying- to listen to the voices in my heart.
Because ultimately, home is where the heart is.
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Yong Tien Cin (yes, its last name, first name)