The Wake

While filling out my study abroad application, I started to wonder what it’s like for a student from another country to tell family and friends they’re going to study in “Bush country.” Even in northern European countries, where the popular cultures are similar, two students express their wariness of attending a university in America.

Johanna Leinonen traveled from Finland in order to pursue a doctorate in history; focusing on Finnish American families. Although she had come to a different part of the world, she did not experience the usual culture shock. “American culture is everywhere back home,” says Leinonen. American television airs in Finland as well. Overall, Leinonen has had an easy time adjusting to life at the University. The most difficult part for her has been participating in class discussions when her language skills are limited. “I have all these ideas and can’t articulate them quickly enough. It’s frustrating,” says Leinonen.

Leinonen described how some Europeans have negative stereotypes about Americans — they haven’t met any. But, her view on America has since separated the actions of the government from its people. Leinonen says she tries to keep politics and other things that annoy her about the government separate from her views on American people. “I went back home last year [after studying at the University for a semester] and told people that not all Americans are ignorant,” says Leinonen.

Guro Anne Braekken came to the U from Norway. She described how climate is a common variable in students’ decisions to come to the United States. “A lot of my classmates went to Texas. I’d rather go to Minnesota than Texas,” says Braekken. Like Leinonen, Braekken is adjusting well to life in Minneapolis, but she noticed that it’s harder to make friends with American students here. “It’s easier to be friends with other international students,” says Braekken.

Braekken’s friends would ask, “You’re going to Bush country?” before she left home. But Braekken decided to continue her journey to the U.S. because she heard Minnesota was considered more liberal and she was aware that “America is a big country with lots of diversity.” Similar to Leinonen’s experiences in Finland, Braekken described how American culture overpowers Norway’s media. “We have Valentine’s Day and Halloween which are American holidays that have nothing to do with Norway. I don’t know why they do it. I don’t like it,” says Braekken.

Braekken is noticing that most things are less expensive here than in Norway. The lower cost may explain why more people have cars in the United States. “It’s not that normal in Norway to have a car,” says Braekken. Before coming here, she heard that everyone here has a car and that no one likes to walk. She says she is impressed with the bus system in Minneapolis.

Braekken explained a huge difference between Norwegian and American universities. The government in Norway will give out a loan to anyone who wishes to attend college, giving virtually everyone in the country the opportunity to go to school. It is almost free to go to the universities, and the government will provide living money so the students do not have to work for rent, food, books and lifestyle expenses. The fallback on this is that professors do not feel obligated to give students worthwhile lectures. “In the U.S. students pay lots of money to go there, so lecturers feel like they need to take care of the students,” Braekken says.

I’m still convinced that I should’ve applied to schools in Norway.