ducational system: in their own words - … first impressions: the campus …i arrived at fredonia...

16

Educational System:

…in my country, all normal students, except genius children have two choices for their studies.

These choices are given to Korean students when students are being high school students. The first

choice is entering to academic high school, and other choice is entering to vocational high school. Kore-

an students usually have like only two choices. And most important teaching method of Korean school

is teaching by rote. Instructors teach students as straightway, and nobody wants to ask their questions

and nobody care about this situation.

…there are different learning styles between South Korea and United States. When I was high

school student of South Korea, we studied only for SAT of South Korea to go high-levels universities like

IVY league. Even though 'History' is important for students, many students did not study about

'History' because it is hard to memorize, too much things to know and students can choose what they

want to take an exam at the SAT. Korean students only study what they choose for SAT and common

subjects of SAT. However, there are C.C.C classes at Fredonia, United States. So, students of Fredonia

should study about various subjects. For example, Even though I am social work major, I should take

about arts classes such as ‘Music of the world.’

Students in C. Carlson’s ENG 100, Fall 2013, from China, Japan, Puerto Rico, & South Korea.

In Korea, South Korean students spend a large portion of their

childhood cramming away at the academy, which up until now have

been open until as late as 10:00p.m in the evening, before when I was

high school student, the academy had been opened until 12:00a.m. How-

ever, in U.S.A, they do not require teaching by rote. They required crea-

tive idea and respect our own idea. Korea education system focuses on

only 3 subjects. Korean, Mathematics, English. For this reason, it is hard

to study other subject. However, In Fredonia University, I can study

which I wanted to learn. Now, I learn about what I wanted such as art,

computer and so on.

The ways I study here are very different too. In China, we go back home at 4:30 every day. So

after we finish dinner, we will study until 11pm. If students in high school, they will study until 1am.

Sometimes, 2 am. Especially, when you are 11th and 12th graders. You need to go to study lounge at

school. And the teacher will be there too. The teacher will also take attendance even though attendance

isn’t count as a part of the grades. If students are not coming, the teacher will call their parents. 11th

and 12th graders can only come back home at 9:30pm. Everytime, my sister got home at 10:00 even

though we were really close to school. Just 5 minutes. In America, you have to study by your own. The

teacher won’t force you to study. And you don’t have to go to study lounge or library. I studied till

11pm every time when I was in China, even though I was only in 8th grade. But after I came here, my

study habit changed. I became lazier. After I go to college now, I go to library study every day. I don’t

even play computer or games anymore. I think I’m growing. That’s the reason I changed.

In Their Own Words

International Student

Perspectives

Compiled and edited by:

Cynthia Carlson Adjunct Instructor,

College of Education & College of Liberal Arts and Sciences

Program Coordinator,

Project MAST2ER

SUNY Fredonia Designed and formatted by:

Korrin Mundo Program Specialist,

Project BELA

SUNY Fredonia

2

… I have learned so much about the culture in this country, and how

to get along with that. Since everyday is the continuity of experiences that are new

to me. For example, in Japan, the age of person play an important role in any socie-

ty. But in this country, age does not seem to be a huge matter. Also, people would

say hello to people or make smile to people even they don’t even know these peo-

ple. That is also something that never happens in Japan.

Sometimes, because of the difference of the culture or cultural view, I get

difficulties communicating with American people here. A joke could be an example.

Since we don’t have same sense of humor, sometimes I don’t get the joke they are

saying or I cannot get the point.

I admit that these things could be stressful sometime, but for now I am hav-

ing fun to trying to understand their cultures and get a deeper understanding of it. I

know that it takes time to accept or understand their culture or way of thinking, but

if I don’t try, I think that means throwing away the advantage on being in a foreign

country. I have to maximize the advantage of being here and that would not

happen if I don’t try.” Student in C. Carlson’s ENG 100, Fall 2013

First Impressions of

SUNY Fredonia

15

Managing Assignments:

…there are a lot of things to do before and after classes, but it is not that bad. When I was in my

high school in Japan, I had a lot of homework to do, and teachers are always be there when I wanted

their help. I was a lazy student in my high school, but still I would rather be busy than having nothing

to do after the classes. And that is one of the reasons I really loved my high school. So I think I like this

university partly because it is a bit like my high school.

So far, I haven’t assigned so many tasks that I would not

be able to handle them, and also because all of my classes are in

the afternoon, so I can spare every morning to review classes I

had a day before. That is something that I couldn’t do while I

was in my high school. Because I couldn’t decide my schedule

for classes that I take. It starts from 8:50 everyday, and ends at

4:30 everyday. It seems like I have not plenty of time to do other

things but I guess it was easier for me to manage my time when

I was a high school student than now because I had fewer time

to manage. Now I have plenty of time to manage. That means, I

can do whatever I want. But in other words, I can also choose to

do nothing. That is actually the task that I am dealing with. I

guess this is the good opportunity for me to get ability to man-

age my time.

Korea campus and SUNY Fredonia's teaching style is similar to use blackboard and write down

main point. Also, professor show movie for helping students' understanding. However, there are some

differences of teaching and learning among two countries. In Korea, instead Korea students don't have

daily assignments, they have a big project assignment. In contrast, in SUNY Fredonia, there are assign-

ments everyday each classes.


…and it reminds me of my high school days. In that period, I had a lot of things to do, but I would

rather to have something to do than having nothing to do. But now I am struggling how to manage my

own time and how to allocate my scarce resource, my time. I would like to find some way to do so by

the end of this semester.

14

Professors:

…in the first class of the semester, both Korean professor and American professor introduce

about their lecture, but the difference is American professor thinks syllabus is important. Professor

gives syllabus to all students. Korean professor does not do that.

When Korean student was scolded from professor, we do not have to see professor’s eyes, but in

the U.S.A, we have to see professor’s eyes.


Professors that I met were all evenly kind and nice. Some of them were being thoughtful to me;

they spoke slowly and clearly in order to help me understand materials well. Some of them gave me

tons of writing assignments so that I had hard time writing my essay every night.

The teaching style in this school is different from that of in Japanese universities, and I really

like how the professor in this university care about the students (at least all of my professors do care

about the students).

I would say that teachers in Japanese universities and those in Fredonia are quite different. Alt-

hough I never know what the Japanese teachers in Universities are like since I have never attend a uni-

versity in Japan, but most of my friends go to a university in Japan, and almost all of them say that they

have doubt if the teachers in their universities are really willing to teach their students. Also, in Japa-

nese universities, students are not really participating to classes. They attend classes, but not willing to

ask questions and it is not surprise to find someone fell asleep. I myself had been thinking that that is

the normal and that view is the exactly what I am going to look in classes in the U.S. But it turned out

that I was wrong about that.

When I had first class in this school, I was really amazing that there are multinational profes-

sors. Although they spoke English weirdly, it was absolutely shocked to me who firstly had this experi-

ence. Also, they loved to ask something not only about their lecture during class time but also unrelated

topic during class time, so I could have class comfortably.

I spent much time studying in Chile. Thus, I will compare with Chilean teaching style and Fre-

donia teaching style. I think Chilean style and Fredonia style are quite similar. Both styles pursue free-

dom and the breathing between professor and student is very good. I think this is because there are not

many students in a class. As an international student in both countries, not only Chile, but also Fre-

donia’s professors have attention and consideration to international students. This makes them to

adopt easily and follow classes well.

3

Winter Weather

When I arrived to SUNY Fredonia actually, I felt that this country has many differences with Ko-

rea. First, the weather was too bad to me because I did not experience heavy snow in Korea, and snow

already covered all of the campus.

When I arrived to Fredonia, it was terrible. I was so tired because of long travel from Korea. It

took 18 hours by flight from Korea to buffalo airport. It was snow that day. I had never seen that much

snow. Korea has winter and snow, but it is incredibly much snow. Snowy weather was continued such a

long day. I could not see the sunlight.

When I was the first came to Fredonia in New York, their weather was very cold and freezing.

That is because there was have a snowstorm, so I could hardly open my eyes. I was surprised since all

of things in Fredonia were covered with snow. However, I have an allergy to cold weather, so I worried

about that problem.

… It was warm students stayed inside the Hemingway hall, but it was so cold outside the Hem-

ingway hall. I needed to wear more than 3 clothes at that time. Walking snowed street is so hard be-

cause the snow's height was more than 5 cm. …That walking was so hard for me and I had to feel cold,

because my legs were always wet by snow.


4

First Impressions: The Campus

…I arrived at Fredonia on January and it was dark night. The winter was at the peak of winter. We cannot figure out anything on the campus. The things that we can see were just several roads and lights. Because every student was exhausted, nobody took care about our classes, bookstore, and instructors. We just wanted to take a rest. As a result, my first impression of the campus is darkness and cold.

…this campus too small. For example, all of the Fredonia students can go to class just 10 to 15 minutes from their residence hall. I already know that most of the American campuses are to bigger than Korean colleges and universities. So I disappoint firstly because of SUNY Fredonia is too small than other campus. However, I re-alized this campus has attraction when snow stopped. It looked like a landscape of Alps, and I never forget this experience because I cannot see that landscape in Korea anymore.

… I have good experiences and impression in the SUNY Fredonia although I have to more study English continuously because of my English is not professional. But I met good friends and studied great environment, it replaced my deficient adaptation and passion. I mean that I always feel stress in the Korean cities actually, but this campus recovered me. Thus, I never forget this campus in my life, and this campus is greatest campus in good studying environment of college.

… I could remind the first feeling when I saw my dormitory at first time. It was the Hemingway hall and there were many rooms for Fredonia students. It was warm students stayed inside the Hemingway hall, but it was so cold outside the Hemingway hall. I needed to wear more than 3 clothes at that time. Walking snowed street is so hard because the snow's height was more than 5 cm. Human must eat food for surviving, so I had to walk across the snow walls for eating some food at winter. That walking was so hard for me and I had to feel cold, because my legs were always wet by snow.

… When I first arrived at SUNY Fredonia Campus, It was raining cats and dogs. I was tired because I had a lot of heavy baggages. My first residence hall was Igoe hall. It was very old building which was built around 1970s. To make matters worse, a radiator in my room was broken. So, the only thing that I can remind about the first day of my residence life is that it was very cold.

… SUNY Fredonia was all-new world to me. It was quite different from what I expected. I didn’t expect New York City because I have searched SUNY Fredonia on Google Earth. However, it was more quiet and small rural area than I expected it to be. It is good environment to concentrate on studying but, I sometimes feel bor-ing. I just want to enjoy this nice weather and green campus for the rest of my semester.

This campus is too big for me, so it was really important to understand the location of the buildings, such as where is the Thompson Hall and what is the building next to it. Throughout the period of orientation, I be-came to like the atmosphere of buildings in the campus. I really liked the residence hall too. The room was big-ger than I expected it to be. The roommate is nice, and Living with a perfect stranger isn’t really stressful for me. Therefore, the first impression I received from this school could be described as really good. I like this school, and I am sure that I am going to like this school more and more as the time goes by.

… I arrived on this campus on August 17th. The first impression I received from this school was

actually really good. The campus is full of green, and the air is fresh.


13

Learning Focus:

…people at here put their emphasis on critical thinking heavily. Professors in every course that I

took talked mainly about “critical thinking”. They even gave me catalogue about critical thinking. I think

that they might want to teach students that learning is not everything. Thinking critically about what

students learn is being considered to be more important at here.

Therefore, I am trying hard to focus on what I really need to get from the class. I try to ask ques-

tions right after it pops up in my head. It is certain that the attendance is not all about participation. I

am now trying to participate in class. In addition to that, I have to think critically about what I have

learned. And then, I need to make correlations between what I have learned and my career. Most high

school students were slave to their grades. Although I still care a lot about my grade, I am trying not to

put my emphasis on grade anymore. Now, I see myself trying to “learn” something.

In Korea, the way that I learned was just know about a lot of theoretical information in any of

field. However, the style of SUNY Fredonia is by doing it not just reading some books and writing about

the books compared to the way that I learned in my home country. If I read a book about Soccer in class

of Korea but they let me just play Soccer to know at Fredonia.


12

Classroom Discourse:

Secondly, American students just tell their thoughts directly. Of course, their teachers accept

those actions as participation. In Korea, on the other hand, students do not usually tell their opinion di-

rectly. Some students consider it as a disrespectful attitude towards their teachers. Korean students

also ask many questions but, American students still ask more as if they came to the class to ask any-

thing they wonder.

I think different school has different way to teach because the cultures are different too. In Chi-

na, the school is very traditional. Every class, teachers come to our class and teach us, not students go-

ing to teacher’s class. In China, the most important thing is listening to what teachers say. For example,

during the class, students should be quiet and they cannot make noise. Only if the teachers say you can

ask questions, you will raise your hand and ask questions. But in America, the teachers are very differ-

ent. Teachers wish their students asking questions every second. Sometimes, students don’t even need

to raise hands to answer. Students can yell out loud. Students asking questions symbolize the students

are listening and they are very active, which means they are focusing what the teacher said.


The different learning style between U.S.A. and South Korea is characteristic of teaching. Most of

Korean teachers try to teach only in their knowledge. It means that there is no time to discuss around

Korean students. Therefore, Korean students are not friendly to discuss in their class time. However,

U.S.A.'s professors used to let students discuss each other. Then students announce their opinions and

share their thoughts. I think discussion is a great learning style in education.

In my country, professor teaches alone, students just listen and note taking the lecture. There is

no interaction between professor and students. In contrast, American professor asks some questions to

students and students enjoy answering the questions.

There are different teaching style between South Korea and United States. There is authoritative

teaching in South Korea. Most of teachers focus on teaching than activities on classes. However, teach-

ers of United States focus on debating with teaching and activities than only doing teach.

In this country, participation classes are required, and the professors always expect the students

to bring their ideas to classes. That is something I really like about university in this country.

Almost Korean professors do not communicate with students when they have class, and they do

not love that students ask something that they could not understand during class time, but if you are

going to ask at office hour, they would likely to welcome about it.

Korea's class atmosphere is calm and passive. In contrast, in SUNY Fredonia … class atmosphere

is active, and there are have many opportunities for discussion.

5

…I was impressed about the long history of SUNY Fredonia. South Korea has had Korean-war 63

years ago. So, there is not long history college or educated institutions. SUNY Fredonia established in

1862. It is really long history. When I knew about the date of foundation, I was really surprised. So, I am

proud of my school where has a long history.

When I first started in college I felt lonely and kind of lost. Because I thought that I was the only

one that did not know so well English. Also, college is so big and kind of confusing to find my classroom.

I do like the environmental of the campus and it is very pretty and impressionist the architect.

… SUNY Fredonia’s campus is wide and eco-friendly. The reason why this university has no

choice but to have environmental advantage is far away from big city like Buffalo. For this reason, I can

breathe fresh air every day and look at the shiny stars without a telescope when I lie on the campus. In

addition, there are many kinds of animal like a squirrel. They love people rather than afraid of human.

I still remembered the first day I came here. The building was so beautiful, the food was nice and

the people were really nice to me. I will never forget. The first time I came here because of freshmen

orientation. … Everything looked new to me. Suny Fredonia’s environment was great. The school

looked green and natural. The buildings were ancient but beautiful. I really loved the University Com-

mon Hall. It was gorgeous, especially at night. It was a light house to me. The light color looked so glori-

ous. I lived in Nixon Hall that time. The building was very new and clean. I felt so excited to go inside

the building because that will be the place I’m going to stay afterward. I saw the room, the drawers and

bathroom. They were fancy to me. I still remembered the morning when I woke up, the birds were sing-

ing. That morning made my day.

…what I liked thing is when I arrived and walked around this campus was it is not so big and

there do not have an uphill road or path. In my city, there are many uphill roads and mountains so it

was hard to walk around long time.

… about the appearance of the campus. I had heard from my friend who goes to this school that

SUNY Fredonia is rural. Even though I expected that Fredonia is rural, I was surprised at a lot of green. I

had lived in Kobe, which is urban. There is no space to build huge flat buildings because there are a lot

of people in the small area. Also, I thought that the campus was peaceful. People driving cars keep the

rule, and do not speed.

After that, I arrived at the first my dormitory in my life. I have never experienced to live outside

without my parents before. However, I had wanted to live on my one separate from family. Therefore, I

was excited, and that was a new experience, but, on the other hand, I was nervous and worried about

living in a dormitory without supervisor like my mom. However, I was not a child anymore and I want-

ed to have a new experience. Moreover, at the first night in the dormitory, I had many happenings but I

could not sleep because of jet lag.


6

First Impressions: The People

I was worried about meeting new friends at Fredonia University before meeting the Fredonia friends. I was nervous about culture differences between me and friends…I met American friends in my room and classes and we just talked about everything. They were honest and kind to me. They also helped me to adjust at Fre-donia Campus and gave me some information about Fredonia College. They are so nice and I really thanks to American friends.

…people, who helped me during orientation period, are so kind. First, Mary Sasso was at the buffalo air-

port for international students. I was surprised because I did not expect she was there. Second, student ambassa-

dors lead campus tour for international students. They explained about the campus very well, so I could find my

classroom easily on the first day of my class. Finally, Fredonia student are nice, they are greeting to international

student with smile. I liked that.

…this is my personal experience although some international students do not agree with me. It is

suitemates who live with me in Igoe Hall. Because they made my all of the impression of SUNY Fredonia, such as,

they taught a young American cultures. For example, when I arrived to campus, I did not make friends, improve

English, and understand American cultures well. However, my roommate and other suite friends always help me

whenever they have a free time, such as driving around Fredonia with constant communication, eating food to-

gether. These situations made me the more courageous and more sociable. Therefore, I have a nice impression of

SUNY Fredonia.

Other impression of Fredonia is that most people are kind and have nice manners. For example, Ameri-

can people often say “I’m sorry”, “excuse me”, “you’re welcome”, “thank you” very many times. In fact, I felt in-

convenience about that at first, but now I think it is good habit for other people. Moreover, I was surprised that

people hold the door and wait for behind person even the person is walking from such a far distance. When I

saw these manners, I felt good and thanks.

The last is unfamiliar type of people. Japanese people are small. Even man, there are people who is short-

er than me in Japan. On the other hand, there are a lot of tall and big people in Fredonia. I thought I can hide be-

hind them. In addition, they are kind. They care about us and help us.

After the first orientation week, my roommate and other residents came. What I was shocked was that

there was a couple living next door. In Korea, it might never happen.

Unfortunately, I did not like my roommate because he had very bad smell, snoring when he slept, did not take a

shower, and do not often laundry his clothes. Though I lived in good residence hall, I mind to go to my room.


After my orientation ended, I felt a little sad to leave the school. I really enjoyed my time during the ori-

entation. I knew I would never forget the first impression to the appearance of this campus, the food and the

people I met here. And I knew I would stay here.

11

Grading:

Above all, evaluating methods was the biggest difference

in the teaching styles of the teachers between Korea and here.

Both countries might consider academic respect as an im-

portant aspect of evaluating students. When I studied in my

home country, my grades were mostly judged by how many

questions I got right or wrong. But, what the teachers at here

require their students are showing their process of what they

have done for the task.

However, Korean scoring alternatives is not similar to American style. For example, Korea sets

relative evaluation. This system help every students who have low to high score for their score in test,

but only 1% student can get A or A+. On the other hand, American classes usually sets absolute evalua-

tion for evaluate each of students’ capacities. Korea and America have their endemic evaluation way. In

my case, Absolute evaluation is better than relative evaluation because relative evaluation does not

help students’ passion and learning their studies. For example, it just make competitive class for who

get the great score for 1%. Thus, students cannot study what do they want and prepare their endemic

future.

In China, teachers also grade students in a different way. Every morning, my class had 3 subject-

quiz. During the noon, before the class starts, we also have 3 or 4 subject-quiz in order to make sure

students are learning. Subject representatives will report the grades every time. When there is a parent

-teacher-conference, the teachers will provide every quiz’s grade and test’s grade to parents. Parents

will see a lot of grades in every subject. In middle school, students have 7 subjects. So every time, they

will see a lot of reports. And the teachers will also make student ranking lists for parents. But in Ameri-

ca, every student has their own privacy. Sometimes, the teachers will ask students’ parents to sign on

their children’s tests. But in China, every test, parents need to sign. In America, students need to go to

different classes, not the teachers. Teachers count quizzes and tests as part of students’ grades. In Chi-

na, we only have one chance. No participation, quizzes and tests count in the grades. Teacher only see

the grades on your quizzes and tests.


10

It might be obvious, but studying in English is completely different from

studying English. I was knocked out at every class in the first week. I lost my confi-

dence in my English and wondered if I would even be able to be sophomore next

year. But soon I learned to record some of the lecture and decided to listen them

while I am reviewing for that class. That method, which I have never thought to do

in Japan, helped me a lot to acquire a deep understanding at each class. And at of-

fice hours, professors are wiling to help me and they really makes me feel that I

would not be left alone as long as I make the appropriate effort constantly.

In class, there is no one who is sleeping during that period, and they are will-

ing to participate in classes by, for example, taking part in discussion held at clas-

ses. These kind of elements might be essential, but I am sure that you will not see

the same views at Universities in Japan. In each class, I leave the classroom feel-

ing that I actually learned something at that class, and I love this feeling.

Student in C. Carlson’s ENG 100, Fall 2013

Differences in Teaching

and Learning

7

My first impression of people is hardness. When the semester was started, I saw the American students.

That was the first time to see them. Of course, they were taller and bigger than me, and I felt the difference be-

tween them and me. That can be skin color or appearance. Because of that kind of feelings, it was so hard to get

American friends, so I failed to relate with many other friends. Although I have American friends, it was hard to

get new friends.

…I experienced nice greeting culture. One of the favorite cultures of U.S. is hugging and greeting culture.

When I met some American students or Professor, they gave me greet with smile on street. I have never experi-

enced this nice greeting culture at South Korea where I lived before. So, I was surprised about the greeting cul-

ture of United States and liked it.

People I have met here were mostly kind and energetic. They kept smiling while they talk to me. They

kept smiling whenever and wherever they encounter me even though I am stranger to them. But, their appear-

ance and race were very diverse and totally different from me and other people from my country. To be more

specific, not only races but also their hairstyle and clothing were different.

People I encountered were really nice. I spent couple of the first days at here with the international students am-

bassadors. Most of them are upperclassman international students. So they knew how hard it is to become a col-

lege student in a foreign country. They told us what we should have done by the time the classes start, and the

tips to avoid some troubles we may encounter in our campus lives. Thanks to that we could learn many things

such as the way to go to the downtown. Also, I could understand the arrangement of the buildings in the campus

prior to the beginning of the classes.

What has impacted me in some way is how some American people are. My perspective on some Ameri-

can people, I thought they were friendly and kind people, but I know they are few, but I understand that the cul-

ture is different. I'm from Puerto Rico and the people are always smiling, they are friendly and cordial people. On

the other hand, some American people they are involve in their own stuff, they look like you are not there, and

they are serious persons. I live off campus and I do not use to eat in campus, it is more difficult to me socialize.

First of all, people who are studying in Fredonia looks so kind and friendly. I had actually worried about

discrimination about race in America school, but they were not only warm but also such a nice. For example,

when I said hello to them, they always cracked a smile at me and tried to listen even though I could not speak

English very well.

Actually I met many people in the orientation. In the second day orientation, I was oversleeping. There-

fore, I was late to get in our orientation schedule. I rushed out my door and I saw another group leader some-

where. I asked her if she knew my group’s position or not. She called some people and helped me out. She was

really nice. In the afternoon, I had some questions about dorm room because my home was really far away. I

needed to spend another night in school. I went to the office. The office lady was so nice and she helped me out

too. And I also asked her a lot of questions. She also answered. I realized that the people here are so nice!


8

First Impressions: The Food

American food was so exciting thing for me at Fredonia College. I visited the Cranston Restaurant and I liked that food. There were lots of food for students which I like. The Cranston Restaurant is a buffet style restau-rant. It means that students can have many choices for eating food. I could choose lots of food, so I was happy at the restaurant. However, there were some negative things for me. Most of food was tasted too strong and I could not eat all of the restaurant's food. I heard that American's tongue is thicker than Korean's tongue. Therefore, American cooking is used more salt and oil than Korean cooking. This is a reason that I was nervous to eat Amer-ican food at the first time.

…food of U.S taste strong. When I arrived Fredonia, I went a restaurant where is ‘Cranston’ first. There

were so many kinds of food such as pizza, pasta, and salad. I tried the food in happy. However, It was too salty to

eat even Iced-cream was too sugary. My taste was accepted by Korean food what is not too strong tasty. So, I

have challenged to accept American food.

Food here was very salty and oily. It was hard for me to adapt to new

food. But, school cafeteria also served some Asian food such as sticky rice. So, I

came to enjoy both Asian food and American food. Now, I am getting used to

what I eat more and more.

…there is one thing that I could not like about this college. The food in this campus isn’t really good for

me. I don’t mean that the food is terrible, but most of the foods are oily and I don’t like oily foods. However I like

that there are plenty of choices that we can make about the food in this campus. We can go the Cranston Marche

with my friends, or I can go to the Starbucks or Tim Horton if I don’t have much of appetite. I also like that fact

that as long as I bring my Fred card, I don’t have to bring my wallet with me to buy some foods.

…almost American style food is too salty and oily to eat easily event though the amount is very big. My favorite

food was American food like hamburger and pizza before I eat some food in here. I was so happy when I visited

the cafeteria in dorm because there was only American food like hamburger, turkey, and steak, but I am de-

pressed after I have first lunch in SUNY Fredonia. It was really salty and too oily. However, I could bear it be-

cause some Asian food in William center was nice.

Another thing, I did not like at first time is food. It was too salty such as pizza, pasta, and french fries. I

like those foods as time goes by.


9

On the second day, I went to William Center to have breakfast. There were so much food. I really don’t

know what are the food names. But I remembered there was chicken, burger, salad, vegetables and fruits. I really

liked fruits here, but not the salad. Once I took the salad, I didn’t know what that was. I just saw something

looked like grapes so I took some. However, they were not grapes and I didn’t like the taste. Once I put them in

my mouth, I was going to throw up. I swore I will never eat that again! After finishing my breakfast, our group

was about to start our lesson that day.

The most thing what I liked in SUNY Fredonia at first is food style. I can eat

many foods by using buffet, and there are a lot of foods that I like such as pizzas,

fruits, pastas, and ice creams. Thus, I was happy, and I always tasted all the differ-

ent kinds. However, I tired of American food as time goes on, and I missed my coun-

try food, is Korean food.

However, what I disappointed thing was food and convenience store at first. I like western food such as

hamburger and pizza but its taste was as different as I thought. So, little bit hard to adjust to American food on

first weekend. In Korea, there are many convenient stores which open for 24 hours. When on the first weekend, I

was surprised that all stores close at 2 a.m.

In Fredonia, I am always served a large amount of food. If I do not

order the amount, they give me about twice amount of food which is served

in Japan. However, the place of the food is cheap. Even though they serve a

lot of food, the price is same as Japan. In addition, desert is too sweet. When I

ate a piece of chocolate cake, I felt solid sugar in chocolate. I worry about

gaining weight.


ducational system: in their own words - … first impressions: the campus …i arrived at fredonia...

Documents