Julia Hsu received her bachelor's and master's degree in Taiwan and worked as a television news reporter on a channel in her hometown.
But, Hsu gave this all up to come to America and pursue her Ph.D. in communication at UB and, hopefully, an eventual job as a professor.
Hsu, who comes from a modest upbringing, was frustrated with the living conditions in her native country, which she considers oppressive and unjust. Through teaching, Hsu hopes to show her students that anyone can rise above their background and achieve success.
"When I was little, I learned some unfair things happen in my family because we are all poor," said Hsu. "So I decided I wanted to do something about this and that's why I chose journalism, so I can help those who are minorities."
Hsu is one of many foreign graduate students who leave their homes and families for years to pursue advanced degrees in the United States. Some leave because the conditions in their home countries are unacceptable; others leave simply for the cultural and academic experience of studying abroad.
Hsu currently works as a teaching assistant in addition to her studies.
"Teaching experience is very important if you want to find a faculty job," said Hsu.
In addition, Hsu loves working with her students and benefits from it every day.
"I learn a lot from [students]," said Hsu. "From their papers and their questions."
Isabelle Martinez hails from France, and shares a similar experience to Hsu's. Martinez is currently pursuing a doctorate in French language and literature and plans to become a professor in that field.
"It's a great experience to teach as a TA so you know what to expect," said Martinez.
Martinez began her work in the United States as an exchange student, but enjoyed the country so much that she decided to stay and complete her graduate work. She had to adjust, however, to differences between the French and the American educational systems.
Grading is much harsher in France, said Martinez. For example, if there is a grammatical mistake in a sentence, the whole sentence is marked wrong. In the United States, she said, partial credit is given away like candy.
Marina De Carneri expressed a different view of her experience as a teaching assistant at UB. She is currently pursing a doctorate in comparative literature and also hopes to become a professor. De Carneri, however, does not hold her job as an instructor in the same high regard.
"It's a good teaching experience, but you're not free to teach what you want really," said De Carneri. "And it's not well paid."
De Carneri is originally from Italy, where she completed her undergraduate studies. Over the past decade, she studied in the United States at Temple University and in France. Eventually, she ended up at UB when the university offered her a scholarship.
Foreign students expect a certain degree of culture shock while adjusting to the American lifestyle. Although the three teaching assistants have had a relatively easy time due to American presence in their countries, they still had to cope with cultural differences that American television could not teach.
"American culture is everywhere, but there are characteristics of American cultures that are different from that of European in the sense of capitalism and consumerism," said De Carneri.
De Carneri struggled to adjust to certain lifestyle differences in the United States that set America apart from its European counterparts. De Carneri considers a standard day in Europe more "spaced out" and synchronized than a typical day in America. For example, in Italy everyone stops working and goes to lunch at the same time.
Like Martinez, she pointed to variations between American and European school systems. De Carneri also believes European schools are more demanding than those in the United States. Martinez observed a greater level of educational technology in American schools.
Although Martinez and De Carneri had a somewhat difficult time with the English language, they had some exposure to English when they were younger, which eased the transition. Hsu, on the other hand, still has a difficult time with the language. She found it helpful to befriend someone who is more familiar with English, particularly with American slang. She also considers herself very fortunate for having such understanding and patient students who correct her when she makes a mistake.
While interaction with students can help foreign teaching assistants become more comfortable with the language and culture of the United States, the learning process is often a two-way street.
"I try to give them as much as I know of the French culture," said Martinez.
