International Student Services

Adjusting to U.S. Culture

Take a look at our campus Events Calendar for listings of upcoming lectures, seminars, panel discussions, workshops and “brown bag” lunches. The Events Calendar often includes international, multicultural, and club events. There are activities on issues of diversity including lectures, movies series, and mentoring.
Join intramural sports, the fitness center, the Student Government Association, and other campus activities.
Socialize with fellow students, faculty, and staff; get involved in class activities and Student Housing activities, along with those conducted by Student Life.
Contact the local community centers (American Red Cross, YMCA, Chamber of Commerce, etc.) to see how you can become involved in volunteer activities in the local Fort Wayne community.

Read newspapers and magazines to keep up with news and events, and to get a picture of some aspects of United States culture.
Become a careful observer to make yourself aware of some of the subtle social nuances in American society.
Continue to follow news and events in your native country so you feel connected to your culture.
Email, phone, and snail mail are effective ways of keeping in touch with family and friends in your home country.

Develop and maintain a healthy balance between retaining your home culture while adapting to new customs in the United States.
Observe the local customs and traditions. Pay special attention to the language used and how people interact among themselves.
Notice the social customs, as it might provide insight into both the similarities and differences among your culture in comparison to that of the host culture and other cultures.
Be a cultural ambassador for your country. People you meet may not know much about your country and will be curious to know more.
Have a good combination of friends from your own country and other countries so you do not feel homesick and are exposed to a new cultural experience.