Looking back to when I was a 17-year-old girl in Karachi, Pakistan waiting to hear back from universities I applied to, I never thought I would end up where I did. The University of Texas at Austin was the very first university I heard back from, and I knew in… read more
student blogging
International Orientation Volunteers Offer Advice to Incoming Students
To welcome incoming international students this spring, International Orientation Volunteers (IOVs) conducted “Mentor Meetings,” a series of informative presentations covering various cultural, social and academic topics introducing new students to the Longhorn way of life. These sessions took place over Zoom from Jan. 6-14. There was a total of… read more
How to Combat Homesickness and Smoothly Transition to a New Culture
This post was contributed by Le Dang Khoa (Kevin) Pham, a Civil Engineering freshman from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Before coming to the United States, I had been going to “international schools” in Vietnam. Essentially, they are private schools that combine two educational systems: one of the systems is… read more
A Tale Between Two Cities
This post was contributed by international student Diana Arriaga, a Plan II and International Relations and Global Studies freshman at UT. On the morning of what would become my last day of high school in Brownsville, Texas, sheer terror bled through me when my anatomy teacher told us Border Patrol would be… read more
Let’s make a difference
This post is a part of our International Voices column, written by international UT students & staff, for UT students & staff Let’s make a difference. One of the main contributions we bring to the university as international students, is perspective. Many of us come from countries where horrible things… read more
TIPS ON SAVING MONEY FOR TRAVEL
This post is a part of our International Voices column, written by international UT students & staff, for UT students & staff Alright, I won’t beat around the bush, saving money for travel is hard. It takes time, effort and a chunk out of your social life. But I can… read more
No, I’m not Australian: A quick guide to New Zealand
This post is a part of our International Voices column, written by international UT students & staff, for UT students & staff There were a few things that could’ve made my flight to Austin a bit easier; getting the meal I requested, having an aisle seat and mostly being given… read more
Finding Myself in Austin
UT Austin’s International Office hosted the Iraqi Young Leader Exchange Program on campus summer 2015, bringing 25 undergraduate students from Iraq to Austin for a “Law, Leadership, and Social Justice” institute. ISSS invited these students to share stories about their experience in Austin and their life back home in Iraq… read more
Kurdistan to Austin and Back
UT Austin’s International Office hosted the Iraqi Young Leader Exchange Program on campus summer 2015, bringing 25 undergraduate students from Iraq to Austin for a “Law, Leadership, and Social Justice” institute. ISSS invited these students to share stories about their experience in Austin and their life back home in Iraq… read more
International Voices: Dead Days and Impromptu Vacations on Campus
This post is a part of our weekly International Voices column, writing by UT students, for UT students. Enjoy! The dead days are upon us (you can’t expect me to call two puny little days a dead week) – and I believe they’re aptly named. After all, campus turns into… read more