As an international student, I knew being away from home for extended periods would be difficult. But nothing quite prepared me for what it would feel like to return home to São Paulo, Brazil, after four years of living in the States. The excitement of seeing my family, eating my favorite foods, and walking familiar Read more…
Growing up as both Japanese and Brazilian, I have always felt like I belonged everywhere and nowhere at the same time. The uniqueness of my heritage often sparked curiosity, but it also invited uncomfortable questions. “Where are you really from?” “Do you feel more Brazilian or Japanese?” These questions, though often well-meaning, left me feeling Read more…
Happy New Year, IFI family ~ I hope you’ve been keeping warm during this winter season– if you’re in a colder state in the US, that is. But more than just keeping warm, I hope you’ve been creative in finding ways to enjoy it! For many international students, including my Brazilian self, winter in the Read more…
Have you ever heard an expression in English that left you scratching your head and thinking, what does that even mean? Like other languages, English is full of idioms and sayings that aren’t always literal in their meaning, and learning them can help you understand what Americans are saying, as well as sound more like Read more…
Fall is in the air! The leaves have changed color and the weather is getting cooler. It’s that time of year for warm and fuzzy sweaters, coats and jackets, pumpkin spice lattes, and bundling up under a blanket by the fireplace. These natural occurrences may seem foreign to international students who grew up in tropical Read more…
The US is a melting pot of different cultures. I assume that, like me, you want to interact and be friends with people from other cultures, but you have no idea how to start a conversation with them. That’s why “Country Curiosities” was created– to help you get an idea of peoples’ cultures and help Read more…
Have you ever heard the expression “putting all your eggs in one basket”? This saying has a connection with the Easter holiday—but not for the reason you’re probably thinking! Around this time of year, you’ll see lots of bunny rabbits, baskets, and plastic eggs in American stores, but the real story of Easter dates all Read more…
You thought we were done with the holiday posts, huh? Nope! 🙈 As I wrote the last post on American holidays, I couldn’t help but reflect on the times I spent Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s here in the US. This got me inspired to open up about some personal experiences I had during those Read more…
This is a guide for international students to learn about holidays in the US. We showcase Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s and how you can spend them.
Hello, friends! 😄 How’s it going? This is (sadly) the last post of our Culture Shock series… and I’d like to start our conversation by taking you back to your childhood. I assume you did some arts and crafts, using paint and mixing them to create new colors. Now imagine yourself being the paint — this Read more…