As Summer Sessions at Ohio University progress, students are changing their approach to life in Athens. Stores and restaurants have adjusted their times, the number of students has decreased to about 4,000 undergrads and the ability to notice some of the campus's great scenery has become a little easier.
Within classes, living quarters and around campus, there also has been a change within the student body of OU.
Fewer than a quarter of undergraduates on campus are international students who came to the university to study and to partake in the aspects of American life. It has taken time for these students -and for those who were here already -to adjust to one another and to understand one another's differences and similarities.
Kuldip Kamat, a student from Bombay, has been in Athens for about ten months now. He is an assistant manager with the Summer Conference Staff, which organizes and supervises camps and programs at OU in the summer. Kamat currently is pursuing his bachelor's degree in industrial engineering, and plans to continue studying toward a master's.
I thought that it was a decent campus
he said, concerning his first impression. I had heard a lot of good things from my friends who go here now that will be graduating soon so I was ready to come here.
When asked about the differences within the educational facet of school, he replied, The classes here are very good for me. The professors really know what they are talking about and I enjoy the fact that there are smaller classes at times. I do not mind when there are ten or twenty people in a room because I'm accustomed to a much larger group of students.
Kamat said one of the most challenging things he encountered on his arrival was the ability to communicate with other students in Athens -a problem that lately has been alleviated.
It really has not been too much of a problem for me to talk to others lately he said. Sometimes it's difficult for people to understand me because of my accent
but when they listen carefully and I talk a little bit slower
then we have no problems.
Mary Hogue, a sophomore interior architecture major from the small town of Newcomerstown, resides in Bromley Hall with Chiaki Kato, a Japanese student. Although these two are from very different locations on the globe, they ironically share some similar tastes. Both are fans of the band Green Day and own the same pair of blue flip-flops.
Hogue said that when she found out who her roommate was earlier in the year, she had some apprehensions.
I was a little worried about communicating with (Kato) because I was not sure how much English she would actually know
but once we finally met and spoke
I knew that everything would be fine
she said. She's just so cute!
Kato currently is taking a public-speaking class. When asked about it, she gave a troubled sigh, and spoke three simple words -It is hard.
Hogue concurred with her roommate. It wasn't easy for me
and I'm from this country. I can only imagine how difficult it would be for someone from a different country
she said.
Aside from her classes, Kato frequently is in and out of her room, mingling throughout the halls of Bromley with various students. I think she's adjusting just fine
Hogue said.
Many students feel the summer brings more than just warm, sunny days and chances to enjoy the beauty of Athens -it also provides an opportunity to meet new people from a variety of different backgrounds.
