Click here to learn more about international students and study at Montclair State as well as some interesting facts about study abroad and exchange programs.

Montclair State is home to 779 international students this year. While two of them-- Alean Haider and Samira Panah from Afghanistan--have received a lot of media attention since arriving on campus in September (click here to read their story), there are many others who have made an impact on the campus community. While we wish we could profile all the students and tell their stories, here are two we'd like to introduce to you. There are many services and programs the University offers to international students, as well as scholars, and we encourage faculty and staff to call the Global Education Center to learn about ways so get involved.

Alexey Kuvshinov from Russia

Memories of White Nights
When Alexey Kuvshinov thinks about his native country, Russia, where he left in 1997, he remembers and misses his friends, his family and one of the most acclaimed natural phenomena: White Nights.

From late May to early July, the nights are bright in St. Petersburg, with the brightest period, the White Nights, normally lasting from mid-June to early July. The White Nights --"Beliye Nochi" --are caused by St. Petersburg's northerly geographical location. As the world's most northern city, it stands at such a high latitude that the sun does not descend below the horizon enough for the sky to grow dark.

"It is so special and hard to describe," said Kuvshinov. "It's like nothing you see anywhere else and it's much different than regular daylight. It is very romantic."

While Kuvshinov has witnessed this extraordinary phenomenon, his experience here, he says, has been that of a typical student. As a senior finance major, Kuvshinov deals with the same issues as most American students, including time management. "The hardest part about being at MSU is finding the extra time so I could get more involved in campus activities. Also," he said with a smile, "my 8 a.m. classes."

But juggling everything is just a small sacrifice for someone who, with the goal of pursuing higher education, came to the United States alone. Kuvshinov had finished high school and studied to be a mechanic in Russia, but decided to pursue further opportunities. "MSU seemed to be the perfect choice," he said.

Although Kuvshinov came to the United States primarily for an education, he hoped for much more. "I wanted to learn about life and culture on the campus of an American university, to meet other students and make friends," he said. "So far, all my expectations of Montclair State have been met."

With one year to go before he earns a degree, Kuvshinov does what he can to stay in touch with his culture. "Sometimes I go to Russian food places and visit Russian communities," he said. "I also have Russian friends here in the United States. And I never miss any news in the paper about what is going on in Russia."

Despite being so far from home, Kuvshinov says he's been embraced by the campus community and enjoys being in the United States. "It's a beautiful country with hard-working people," he said. "The people who work on campus are always helpful and pleasant."

The one thing Kuvshinov says he has enjoyed most about Montclair State is the diversity. "It's truly an international community."

Through his experiences, Kuvshinov admits he has been changed. "So much is accessible here," he explained. "I believe I can do anything I want."

Samira Hammoud from Venezuela

Far from Venezuela, but not in heart
Samira Hammoud, a senior business administration major with a concentration in management and marketing, was born in Venezuela but hopes to make her mark in the business world in the United States.

"I decided to study business administration because I like everything that has to do with distribution of goods and retailing," she said. "I hope to one day establish my own business."

Hammoud came to the United States after high school because she wanted to learn the English language. "I had always been interested in speaking English," she said. "One of my goals was to learn the language when I finished high school, so I came to the United States to accomplish this goal and then decided to pursue a bachelor's degree."

After graduating from Bergen Community College with an associate's degree, Hammoud headed to Montclair State. "I liked the campus and the business program," she said. "My classes have taught me a lot about the business world."

Hammoud also likes the diversity. "The people I've met have made my time here incredible," she said. "There are people from all over the world at Montclair State. I have had the chance to learn about so many cultures and their customs and share with people information about my country. I feel like I have visited many nations without really having done so."

And while she has benefited from the multicultural experience, she hopes others have gained something from knowing her. "As I learned about other cultures and how to act among individuals from other nations, I think American and other international students have been able to do so from me, as well," she said. "We are all benefiting from our mutual interaction. It is so important to know how to behave among people, especially in this global world."

It did, however, take time for Hammoud to get acclimated to the MSU world. "I had to get to know new people," she said. "That transition is never easy, but I feel very comfortable now."

The road to graduation in May has been hard work for Hammoud who struggled with learning both the material and the language. "The problem I encountered in my classes was the difference in terminologies," she explained. "For example, I already knew some things about economics and accounting, but when I took those courses here, I had to get used to learning the same concepts in English and recognize them when the professors talked about them."

But while some new students may feel overwhelmed by the college workload, Hammoud said high school in her homeland prepared her well. "In Venezuela, I was used to having to take many courses," she said. "In middle school and high school, students take courses in chemistry, biology, history, physics, and others. When I started my college studies, I did not feel so overwhelmed."

Hammoud didn't know much about American life when she arrived, but said it was just a matter of time. "I learned by interacting with people. As I listened, I learned to pronounce words and I earned about common words used by watching T.V. or listening to the radio. Many of my English-as-a-Second-Language teachers provided me with information about this society, from the justice system to idiom used here."

One other thing Hammoud had to get used to was the cold weather. "I come from a country of tropical weather all year round," she explained. "I miss the warm weather."

To keep thoughts of her home, family and friends close, Hammoud makes time to listen to the music of her country, like "Gaitas," which is typically heard during the holiday season. "It brings up the Christmas spirit," she said. "I also prepare food that is eaten in Venezuela, which makes it easier to be so far away from home."

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