By: Matilda Mutanguha
Posted In: Opinion
Photo credit: Erica Johnson
My name is Matilda Mutanguha and I am a freshman ADJ major. I am originally from Rwanda, Central Africa. This is my first year at Salve Regina University and my first time in the United States.
Coming from a very tropical continent, the first shock I got was the freezing winter weather in Rhode Island. Because my parents are part of the diplomatic corps, I have been able to travel around the world on several occasions. Therefore, I didn’t experience that much of a culture shock when I came to Salve because I have always been enrolled in an international school. So far, I love it here. The whole experience has been made easier for me since my brother attends the same university. I believe the small size of the university allows me to easily adapt to my new environment because I enjoy the attention the professors provide. Coming to Salve the first time, I experienced a great amount of homesickness. This is understandable since my flight is about 14 hours to get home. I also felt a bit of culture shock due to the lack of diversity on campus. However, as I got used to my new atmosphere I joined certain clubs such as Multicultural Student Organization (MSO), Student Ambassadors and Model United Nations and these helped me get more involved in the school community. Being an international student provides me a unique experience at Salve because I come into the classroom with different ideas. I believe this helps me listen to the American point of view and has embedded it into my international experience. As an African, I was brought up to appreciate the important things in life such as education; hence, my time at Salve Regina University is going to be a memorable experience because I consider this an important time in my life.
