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Though I was born in Cameroon, central/west country in Africa, Tennessee has been my home for the past three years. On Tuesday, May 2016, I received an email from Middle Tennessee State University about my acceptance. This was one of the best days in my life because I knew my life was about to change. All my life I always prayed and dreamed of furthering my studies in one of the best countries in the world, and God gave me the opportunity to do so. Tennesseans have been very kind and welcoming, and MTSU students have facilitated my transition to new life. 

I am a senior majoring in Mechatronics Engineering at Middle Tennessee State University. When I heard about the International student Ambassador program, I was excited to be part of this program because I get to give back and help other students as the MTSU community did for me.  I learned a lot from the school, the students, and the people from Tennessee. The main goal of this program is to educate and help incoming international students adapt and transition to this system of education. MTSU is a melting pot that shapes our views, teaches us values, and helps us understand different cultures. The staff and students are always supportive and ready to help. It’s about who we are as people and the education we receive here teaches us respect, and more importantly how to be critical thinkers.  

The True-Blue pride resides in the values and culture that the MTSU community has to offer. This is our University, our home, and our families. I can proudly say I am True Blue. MTSU is the only University I have been to, but I can confidently say you will never meet a staff as supportive and patient as the MTSU staff. To all new students, it is unfortunate that you don’t have the chance to witness and enjoy all the university has to offer because of this pandemic, but this will not stop us from creating memorable moments here. We are part of a large family and this family is called “True Blue.”

More experienced travelers might have known to travel with the currency of the country they would be visiting. With little international experience, however, I found myself cashless and unable to get onto the metro only two days into my study abroad trip during the spring semester of 2020. To top it off, my debit card did not work in Chilean ATMs. I cried for the fifteen minute walk from the metro station to my host family’s house, and after stumbling through my Spanish vocabulary to explain what happened, my host mother gave me a cup of coffee and some efectivo (cash) to hold me over until I could get the situation fixed. It was a small gesture, but had I not had my host family’s support, I could have been in a sticky situation.

Between this rough start and the sudden, pandemic-driven end, living with a host family gave me a lot of security, especially considering my unfamiliarity with living abroad. That being said, life with my host family certainly came with hurdles. For one, as someone who had lived on my own for nearly three years, living with a family and structure again was a shock to my system. Since my breakfast and dinner were prepared for me, I had to adjust to eating on their schedule. Another major adjustment was being around people nearly all the time (if only I had known what the rest of the year would entail). Including me, there were five of us living in the house, and, since Spanish was not yet a comfortable daily language for me, constantly trying to talk in Spanish for the first week or so was exhausting.

I think it’s important to remember that learning how to coexist in a space with new people is difficult no matter the context, and, as I reflect, I am nostalgic for all the wonderful moments it brought me, like staying up late celebrating my host sister’s birthday or learning how to make pastel de choclo on a weekend trip with the family. I remember walking to the store with my host sister and laughing over family stories.

I began my study abroad as a fiercely independent person who liked to spend time alone, but I also began it as someone who didn’t have much experience in other countries and no experiences in countries where English was not an official language. For me, this second fact outweighed the first, and I have no regrets; living with a host family was absolutely the right decision for me at the time. I argue that you get to choose what family means to you, and by living with a host family, you get to choose to have a permanent connection to the country you visit and people who will always represent that time in your life. If your study abroad trip won’t be your first international rodeo and isn’t focused on enhancing your language skills, then maybe living with a host family won’t be worth it for you. But I think that, even with the difficulties, host families give you a soft place to land. I know my host family always made me feel loved, and I truly miss them all the time.

For more input, a few other Global Ambassadors weighed in on their experiences living with host families:

What is your best piece of advice for a student who is considering whether or not to live with a host family abroad?

DeAnn Bingham (Chile): Nothing easy is worth it. Take a leap of good faith and live with a host family if you really want to learn a new language.

Kennedy Wallace (Costa Rica): Live with a host family! They provide the best support system and your program provider will really strive to match you with a family that meets your needs. You can almost treat them like a temporary second set of parents.

Abbey Van den Bosch (Chile): DO IT. Living with a host family not only gives you a better support system while abroad, but it also helps immerse you in the culture (and language) of your country.

Hannah Solima (France): Living with a host family gives you a personal perspective of the local culture, and you make connections with people, who are not fellow students, which provides an alternative experience to a program where you only interact with students actually participating on the study abroad.

What was the best aspect of living with a host family?

Shanee Phillips (Germany): The best part for me was this sense of family even if I wasn’t a part of it. I would come home and help make dinner, clean up together, and talk about our days.

Emily Grace Johnson (Costa Rica): I stayed with an older married couple who were so funny! They were both retired and hosted many people in their home through many different programs all over the world (I was living with someone from Germany at one point!). They were extra committed to hospitality and the idea of “mi casa es su casa.” The mother would have every meal cooked for us on time and even pack us Costa Rican snacks for the long bus ride to school. She cleaned our rooms for us every day and did laundry when we asked her to. We also attended church and many festivals with our family. I loved having a host family to lean on for guidance and information while abroad.

Kennedy: They really made me feel like I had a home in Costa Rica, which was very comforting since I’d never left the country before and was very worried about how I’d function so far from home.

Abbey: Living with a host family gives you an automatic community of people, and that was so great for me. I met so many people just because they were friends with my host family.

What was the worst aspect of living with a host family?

Shanee: Communicating was hard sometimes.

Emily: I had a schedule because of school there, but I was also on their schedule. As I mentioned above, she cooked meals on time every day… If I didn’t wake up on time, I didn’t have time to eat it. But that’s more fault than anything bad about living with the host family.

Kennedy: I must say, at first it is hard to adjust to living with another family because you have to learn what is and isn’t okay in their home which can be a bit stressful as you obviously wouldn’t wanna offend the family in any way.

Abbey: This question honestly took me a while to think of an answer to just because I’m so highly support living with a host family. I think the worst aspect of living with a host family would just be that you have a little less freedom with how you spend your time. Sometimes, you might want to go out with your friends, but you can’t really leave because your mamá has worked hard to cook a delicious meal for you. But I’m not sure if that’s really a down side!

Any final comments?

Shanee: It’s a worthwhile experience. I was afraid to join a family in Germany but they were very welcoming and helped me learn culture and the language. I understood some German customs before going but it was interesting to learn more than what any house guest would know. The opportunity of living with a host family is an opportunity of learning their way of life. A great example I can give is the German trash system is very complicated. I had the host family to guide me how they did it, I adapted very quickly, while students in apartments alone weren’t given an explanation and were left very confused.

DeAnn: If you’re very very nervous about living with a host family, find a program provider (like USAC) that offers the fail-safe option of trying a host family or living in a dormitory or apartment.

Emily: Families that are set up through MTSU’s affiliated providers are not likely to be a bad match. Those families are hand-picked for you and your stay in that specific country. I loved my experience because I knew that if these people were chosen for me, I was safe to enjoy my stay.

Kennedy: Living with a home stay family is so rewarding and really will elevate your trip by giving you a deeper understanding of how people in the country you are visiting really live. Having a “family” abroad will also allow you to relax and spend more time on getting to know the culture you’re visiting as all the laundry, meals, etc will be pretty much taken care of for you!

Abbey: I genuinely feel like my experience abroad would have been much less beneficial if I would not have lived with a host family.

Hannah: Do it! Be with a host family. You want to build that cultural understanding and assimilate with the local culture, and being a part of a host family is one of the best ways to do this.

So, you want to study abroad? Excellent choice. There are so many options out there for you—
a whole world ready to explore. The way I see it, studying abroad can be broken down into three
stages. Stage number 1 is preparation, Stage 2 is while you are abroad, and Stage 3 is when
you come back home.

STAGE 1: Let’s start at the very beginning. What do you do prior to take off?

• Get your work done.
Depending on your class, you may have assignments to do before you leave. I cannot
express how important it is to put in the extra time while you’re at home and finish the
work before you board the plane. There were plenty of times I was able to take
advantage of free time in the evenings and explore the city while my classmates stayed
in at the hotel to finish a paper. While you’re traveling, you want to be traveling!

• Planning is your best friend.
Look over maps. Find the places you want to visit in your free time, and buy tickets to
secure your spot at events. This isn’t to say cancel out all chances for spontaneity,
though. Sometimes the best memories come from experiences you stumble upon. Just
be aware of where you are, who you are around, and what you are doing. You can count
on your time abroad going very smoothly.

• Time to pack!
Here are my personal rules for packing:
1. Take people’s advice when they say to pack light.
2. Only take the essentials, and make sure the essentials are sturdy ones.
3. Leave a little bit of room because, you have to admit, souvenirs are great.
4. In case of emergency, there will be stores where you can buy anything you’ve forgotten.

• Ready for take off!
Whether you’re a first-time flyer or an experienced traveler, long flights can be draining!
Here are a few more personal rules of mine for flying:
1. Dress comfortably.
2. Listen to white noise to help you sleep. Jet lag is very real.
3. Bring a book and headphones.
4. Walk around every now and then to keep your circulation moving.

STAGE 2: You’ve arrived. Welcome! What do you do now?

• Immerse yourself!
I know some people can be anxious or worried about going out with a small group or on
their own, especially in a new and foreign place—I definitely was the first few times I did it.
But take a moment to consider all of the amazing opportunities out there for you to explore.
You don’t want to sit inside all day when there’s a whole new city laid out before you!

• Stay aware.
You always want to be aware of your surroundings. Check traffic and weather before you
leave for the day. Watch when you cross the street. Keep yourself safe, especially if you
want to go out on your own.

• Focus on your studies, too.
The whole point of studying abroad is to immerse yourself in a new culture and do your
work in the atmosphere of a new country. While you will have traditional classroom
meetings, you are also there to see your studies in action. The world is your classroom
while studying abroad, and because of its limitlessness, there is so much to learn.

STAGE 3: And you get to bring those memories and newfound knowledge back home with you!
In my experience, here are the ways I’ve been able to look back on my class and grow from it.

• Keep a journal.
I cannot stress how thankful I am to my past self for taking the time to write about each day
as it happened. Reading back over those entries, I can place myself in those moments, and
a million memories come flooding back to me.

• Reflect on your experience.
Studying abroad demands that you take a step back and look at your own life, and I believe
that is such a healthy and important thing to do. Ask yourself things like: What did you like
or dislike about your experience? What about the country’s culture and customs did you
appreciate or notice as different to your own? What ways of life can you implement from
your time abroad to lead to a cleaner world, a smarter mind, and a happier life?

• Sharing your memories.
There is no doubt you will have many stories and photos to share with your friends and
family. Take it a step further, though. Get involved with MTSU’s Office of Education Abroad.
Apply to be a Global Ambassador and encourage others to embark on adventures to open
their minds, too.

• Keeping in touch.
You will meet so many amazing people throughout the process of applying for and going on
your study abroad, especially those you study with. Everyone in my class became fast
friends, and we all still keep in touch. Strong bonds form out of experiences like these.
You’ll keep your study abroad friends for life!

In the end, the world is so much bigger than what we read about or grow up with. There is
magic around every corner. We just have to go look for it. Everything is out there for you to
discover, so why not take the leap to explore? Take advantage of the wonderful opportunities
presented to you, and don’t take them for granted. I can promise your life will be all the better
for it.

“My name is Pranathi Shankar and I am from Bangalore, India. I first came to the US during my junior year of high school, where I attended a high school in Franklin, TN for two years. When it was time for me to apply to college, I picked MTSU because it had a great psychology program and during my college visit here, I was really impressed by the campus environment. They also had a scholar’s academy program, that was held two weeks before the classes started, and joining that program was just one of the many great memories I have about my experience here. The people here, be it professors, or advisors, or any other faculty, try to do their best to help you with a problem, and not just expect you to deal with it. Even when they do not know the answers, they provide you with resources about who could help you out in the best way. They provide so many opportunities for us here to improve in academic and social aspects and have a good college experience not just making sure people graduate. One such instance that really stands out to me is during my first semester before the classes, the international office, provided me with a contact on campus who was from India so that I would have at least one friendly face when I’m on campus and not be overwhelmed by the new experiences that I would go through.

Even though I had been here for two years, starting out as an international student was stressful for me because I had no idea what to expect. Be that as it may, my first semester here was so stress-free that it gave me the confidence to handle what was ahead of me. The abundant resources on campus to help us was one of the main things that gave me that confidence. Resources like the University Writing Center are so helpful especially for someone who didn’t learn American English growing up. There are nearly 300+ student organizations here that are of great help to meet new people and pursue your interests and hobbies. Those organizations hold activities year-round that give you a much-needed break from academic stress. I myself am a part of the Indian Cultural Exchange, Scholar’s Academy, and the School Psychology Organization.

I am so delighted that I chose this college because I think I would’ve missed out on meeting some great people if I hadn’t. I still have three more semesters to graduate and I can’t wait to see what great memories they hold for me.”

“It took a long flight from Vietnam to America. I still remember it was a day beginning in March 2019. Can you guess what my first impression was? Some people may say I thought, “Oh My God! Look at this! I can smell the rich and modern in the air!” It’s not true because my first thought is, “Oh My God! It’s cold!” And, America welcomed me with a winter landscape.

The first day after ELS class, I must wait until 7:00 pm for Tung, my nephew-in-law, to pick me up. It was too late, so I decided to wait outside. A long time later, his wife told me Tung said he immediately thought, “Poor girl!” when he saw me at that moment. The first time, I realized how loneliness felt.

The first time I took the MTSU tour, I truly experienced the different construction styles of Vietnam and America. There are huge parking lots, significant buildings, and no concrete fences at all. From the outside, university here and in Vietnam are distinct, how is the inside? I think it may be right for me to study here.

The first semester at MTSU, I was so nervous because I came back to school after two gap years. I sent e-mails to every single professor of each class that I took to ask them about what book I should/must read and asked for some advice. I’m glad they replied and gave me helpful information.

The first time I was using a vending machine of mine was when I was at Wiser-Patten Science Hall just finishing my Chemistry class. It was a whole new experience, but it wasn’t too bad. 

The first time I saw people skateboarding on campus, I thought, “Wow, it looks so cool! Should I try to learn it?” (Believe me, Vietnamese are good at riding bikes, but not skateboarding.) So far, I haven’t learned it yet, but I think I will do it one day.

The first time I enjoyed walking on the campus when I slowly walked out of Kirksey Old Main Building, it was about 3:30 pm after I finished my Communication class. The weather was so lovely at the end of the day. I looked around, and I noticed a lot of fun stuff. I saw a healthy green lawn and a couple of squirrels near a stump. I heard a conversation from some students walking behind me; they talked about last week’s assignment. At that moment, I recognized, “Everything around is so lively. I should enjoy it.”

As you can see, I had a lot of “the first time…” with MTSU.  I believe I will have a lot more in my future. I will be so willing and happy to receive them.”

In April 2017, I went on a college tour which included five schools and MTSU was one of them. The tour was arranged by a high school youth development organization I was a part of called Junior Achievement. When I set foot on the campus of MTSU, I instantly knew it was home. It just felt right and even familiar although I had never been there before. Everyone I met and everywhere I went I felt people were caring, involved, interested, kind, and helpful; they seemed to love what they did and where they were. It was an atmosphere that I loved.

Being an international student can be hard anywhere. There are many requirements that you must meet and many rules that are very important to follow. There are also a lot of things you cannot do which can sometimes make you feel overwhelmed. However, the international office at MTSU continuously tries to ease your mind and keep you up to date. They also put on many events to make you feel involved and apart of campus life. The staff in the international office are very helpful. Even when they can’t help, they recommend someone who can and they ensure that you’ve got it figured out. It makes me feel good knowing that I have people I can talk to and rely on when I’m confused or just need a friendly ear. 

Thinking back on my time at MTSU so far, I have to say it was enjoyable and I still feel that I made the right choice for me.  With home being almost a thousand miles away, it was hard being away from my family and friends. However, with the help of people around campus who were so welcoming, I was able to create a family away from home. This helped me feel more rooted because I knew that there were people around me, I could always call for help.

A lot of people believe that college is the place where you find yourself and, I believe in some ways I did. On first coming to college I was very shy and reserved. It was hard for me to put myself out there to meet people and also, to speak up in class. Now I am more open and willing to start conversations with others. I believe the best way to reach other people is by going to different student connection points, athletic games and joining organizations. By doing this I was able to meet many different people while having fun. MTSU continuously tries to keep students involved on campus. My favorite semester is the Fall Semester because there are so many activities for students to attend, for example Crash the Commons, which is a free concert and carnival for students and the Halloween Haunted House where students and staff dress up and decorate the student union ballroom.

When first coming to college I wanted to major in something that had a strong math concentration. I have always loved mathematics; all the way through high school. The summer before I started college, I worked in the Actuarial Department at an insurance company. That job, plus my love of math sealed the deal on my decision to study actuarial science. However, along the way, I decided, I didn’t want to be an Actuary, I now wanted to become a lawyer. So I changed my major.  However my love for mathematics hasn’t gone anywhere, so I am minoring in mathematics. So, if you are not sure about what you want to study, don’t panic and don’t be afraid to change your mind.  It is all part of the college and growing experience. 

My journey here at MTSU is almost over, but what an experience it has been so far! I can’t wait to see what my last year brings me!

I am Temitope. I came from Nigeria to pursue my dream of becoming a professional in Healthcare Informatics as I have always had a keen interest in the health sector and a flair for IT applications.

I got to know about MTSU through an alumnus of the school. I decided to attend MTSU for a couple of reasons including the international-friendly environment detailed by past alumni of the school, the scholarships offered to international students and the robust Healthcare Informatics program.

Leaving my home, which is approximately 6,000 miles away from the USA, I experienced culture shock. The norms as reflected in the slangs, foods, small talk, greetings and attitude were very different from the norms in my country. I have come to realize that having a culture shock is inevitable for an international student in a new environment. With the help of the international office, my professors, academic advisors and friends I have made, MTSU has become the school I imagined.

Getting involved in campus activities, no matter how little, helped me get over my culture shock and interact with people. I remember having a lot of fun on a trip organized for international students by MTSU to the Nashville Zoo during spring break. The African Students Organization meeting solidified my love for MTSU as an international student, I felt completely at home. I was also opportuned to attend the club meetings of Master of Science in Professional Sciences (MSPS) where professionals were invited to educate us on useful tips that are relevant in the job market today.

The Healthcare Informatics program is one of the best programs to consider in this ever-changing world, the importance of informatics in healthcare cannot be contested. The internship experience which will enable me to explore what I am being taught within the classroom in real world experience is one of the major reasons I decided to study Healthcare Informatics at MTSU. All the Professors and academic advisors are always ready to help and are actively involved in their students’ success.

As a Graduate Teaching Assistant, I was opportuned to participate in a Graduate Certification Program organized by MTSU which helps to improve an individual’s mode of teaching while utilizing modern day techniques. The library and the recreation center are two places I love to visit when I do not have classes. The library is very resourceful, and the recreation center is filled with so many fitness and exercise equipment to work with. The food pantry is another place I like to visit where each student has access to edibles and toiletries every week. Leaving home is never an easy decision, but MTSU is a place you want to be, a place where you are welcome, a place that gives room for all-round development.

I am glad I made the choice to study at MTSU!

The first time that I came to MTSU was the first time that I was entering an airport and flying. I was very excited and happy about starting my new life in the United States. It wasn’t until the flight took off that I realized there was no turning back from there. I entered MTSU without having any idea of what exactly to expect apart from my academics. All that I knew was that I would be responsible for everything that I did from then on. I did not already have any friends at MTSU. Hence, I knew that this was going to be an adventurous journey.

Growing up, I have always been dependent on my parents for everything. I was a student who, in high school, always used to say that I am not someone to go abroad and live in a foreign country by myself. Today, when I see that I successfully made it happen at a very young age without having any experience of the outside world, it certainly makes my parents and I feel proud. Just like most children have their life set up by their parents, I had one, too. However, after coming to MTSU, I created a new life for myself. I started by meeting strangers and becoming friends with them, and eventually having them as my family at MTSU. I then had to make important decisions like changing my major that I had chosen while coming to MTSU to what I was fascinated about more.

Moreover, I went through a phase where everything was a culture shock for me. Instead of letting that shock me, or rather scare me, I decided to learn something from every culture shock. I wanted to get submerged in the culture as if it was mine, and I grew up in it. From there, I started considering culture shock as an opportunity to get accustomed to the culture and educate myself. One of the biggest culture shocks was to find out that my peers that were of my age already had stable jobs and were providing for themselves. I took this as an opportunity to develop myself and be self-dependent. After applying to jobs in several on-campus departments, I started working at the Student Unions of MTSU as a Technical Assistant and have raised myself to become a Supervisor now.

This journey so far has sure been challenging, but every challenge has helped me become stronger. In the past three years that I have been at MTSU, I have started to dream bigger and believe in myself more than I previously did. With support from my parents and the help of all the beautiful people that I have met at MTSU, I have been able to create a life here and call Tennessee my second home. As I am preparing to graduate this upcoming May, I am excited for the next adventure that awaits for me, but I am also saddened by the possibility of having to leave my “HOME” once again.

Traveling from the beautiful islands and cays of The Bahamas to the United States to pursue a degree was a reality that wasn’t a reality until I stepped foot on MTSU’s campus during a college road trip when I was in high school. I was fearful but excited for this next step in my life, and this start to my journey of pursuing a career in dentistry. Being away from home I feared feeling homesick and wanting to go back home, but the more and more I got involved on campus, MTSU became my second home.

Being the introvert that I am, I initially struggled to adapt to the social atmosphere of MTSU, but it was only a matter of time before I met so many different people to help me not feel alone. I love MTSU’s plethora of organizations because they enabled me to be active and to break out of my shell and grow.

One of the best decisions I made was to join Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. Becoming a part of that organization brought sisterhood immediately into my life, I have sisters that are my neighbors, sisters that support me in everything that I do, and even mentors/advisors that have helped me in my journey of applying to dental school. I wouldn’t trade my sisters for the world, nor my Advisors who I see as a mother away from home.

Not only did I involve myself in sorority life, but MTSU has many resources tailored for your career goals. For me, as a Pre-Dental student, I have gained interest in Pre-scripts, Delta Delta Sigma Pre-Dental Club, Biology Club, Black Students in Medicine, and many other groups to steer me in the right steps with my career path.

MTSU is a second home for me and it is bittersweet being a Senior, but I enjoyed my experience, and I am grateful to have transitioned from being in a different country with a different culture to be able to be respected and loved by all students that I’ve interacted with.

I came from Saudi Arabia to pursue the career of my dreams, Aviation Management. What got me into the Aerospace industry is my dad because he is a pilot and I learned a lot from him. He inspired me to pursue a career in Aviation.

I decided to attend MTSU because it is the best Aerospace school in the United States, and I wanted to go to a state that I haven’t been to before. As international students, it is important to get involved on campus and organizations to get to know American friends and more countries such as Venezuela, Columbia, Germany, and a lot more.

Get involved with people as much as you can, so you don’t feel homesick. I got involved with the Muslim Students Association during my time at MTSU. I also use to meet people around campus—at Starbucks, the library, the student union, and classes as well. Now, I’m an international Student Ambassador.

MTSU’s Aerospace Department is the best in the nation. I liked that I got to fly, build a glider from wood, and a lot more. The faculty and staff are so welcoming, they all care about your success, and are always there to help you. The program will get you ready to be a successful person in the aviation industry, no matter what your concentration is—whether it is Professional Pilot, Management, Maintenance, Technology, or UAS.

Being an international student is difficult at first because you will be in a different country all by yourself not knowing anyone; but with the help and support of the international office, friends, and professors, you will get through it. I remember when I arrived at Murfreesboro, I didn’t know anyone. The day of orientation the international staff were so kind, welcoming, and to this day they are still checking up on me even though I graduated. I got to meet a lot of my friends at MTSU, who are still my friends until this day.

Every Tuesday night for all four years, I went to the international student dinner, where I get to meet lots of American families, and American friends, which helped me improve my English language skills even more. Also, every semester there is some sort of trip to lakes, museums, and many more activities for international students that you will get to make friends in no time.

I recommend MTSU to anybody who wants to go and study abroad because the community is so amazing and the tuition is acceptable compared to other schools in the U.S.

Murfreesboro is a small city, but it has everything you need, the parks and lakes are so tremendous, and it is a 30-minute drive to the music city, Nashville. Leaving my country and my family behind wasn’t easy. There were so many challenges and barriers, but with the help of the international office and friends, I made it through, and it was all worth it in the end.

“Studying abroad is the single most effective way of changing the way we view things.” -Chantal Mitchell