organizations of international and culturally diverse students on WSU campus. Mentoring a new international student can be very rewarding.
Keep in touch with family and relatives through e-mail, chat, and phone.
Take care of your health. Do not hesitate to use your health insurance or seek medical assistance on campus at any time you perceive something is not going well. If you need to seek healthcare off campus, remember that it is cheaper and faster to go to a walk-in clinic or schedule an appointment with a doctor. Going to the ER (emergency room) is costly and time-consuming—only go for an actual emergency. Also, try to eat healthy and, if possible, incorporate some physical activities into your daily routine. You can use the free gym and swimming pool on campus, participate in sports, run or just walk on campus. Studies have shown that, as a result of physical exercise, our brains produce chemicals that make us feel more energetic and satisfied.
Keep a journal. Putting your thoughts down may help you unload after a stressful or even highly successful day. Moreover, the journal is private.
Try to build some fun activities into your busy daily schedule: a hobby that you have had in your home country or a new thing that you have been enjoying in the US.
Share your concerns with people you trust on campus, such as academic advisors or advisors at the Office of International Students. It is very important for your cultural adaptation that you ask people questions on practical things and cultural issues.
Consider counseling. In many cultures, talking to a stranger about one’s problems may not be appropriate. It is understandable that if counseling is not popular in your home country, you would prefer to resort to alternative resources such as family members, friends, professors, religious leaders. However, if you decide to seek counseling on campus, you can talk to your counselor and negotiate what and how much you will do in the counseling room so that you respect the values of your own culture and, at the same time, benefit from the counseling. Also, it is important to keep in mind that the University counseling center is the only place on campus where confidentiality is guaranteed.