Imprints: Going all the way
Ali Almouqasil, international student, strives for the full college experience
Daniel Metcalfe
Issue date: 11/2/06 Section: News
Being thrown into a hectic mess of homework, projects and midterms upon entering college can be a stressful undertaking for any student.
Not speaking the language of your peers makes matters even more complicated for students like Ali Almouqasil.
Almouqasil left his home and family in Qateef, Saudi Arabia, last winter to improve his English at OSU's English Language Institute.
"It's very challenging," Almouqasil said. "I have to adjust to a new life."
Different food, friends, language and customs are only a few of the things to get used to.
But Almouqasil decided to take a plunge and join the Delta Upsilon fraternity this fall.
He said that this has helped him tremendously with his English and adjusting to life in a different country.
"It's a sense of being off-balance," Deborah Healey, director of the ELI, said. "Even after the jet lag wears off, things stay different."
Almouqasi agrees that the drastically different climate was one of the first things he noticed.
"It's too cold here," he said.
A friend who lived in Corvallis suggested the town because of its size and the accommodating citizens, Almouqasil said.
"Everyone is very nice," he said. "I have not found anyone who is not nice."
Almouqasil said it has taken him four or five months to learn English.
"For the first three months I lived with Arab guys," Almouqasil said. "My English was not so good."
But through the fraternity Almouqasil found his way to take on the whole college experience.
"There's no better way to enjoy college life," Jeff Stephenson said, social chairman of Delta Upsilon. "At any given time you have 30 guys willing to help you out."
Stephenson said that this has helped him tremendously with his English and adjusting to life in a different country.
Almouqasil said being a part of a fraternity encourages him.
"My friends are like brothers," said Almouqasil. "It helps a lot."
He said that living so far from home makes him a bit homesick at times. The next time he sees his family will not be until next summer for a visit home.
"It's an act of courage to leave everything behind," Healey said.
Almouqasil is currently maintaining 18 credits of English in preparation for the test of English as a foriegn language.
If he passes the test, Almouqasil said he plans on pursuing a business degree.
On top of his full class schedule, he still finds time to be involved with intramural volleyball and community service projects with the fraternity.
Healey said she is always amazed at how students can pack up and come to a foreign place.
"It is a huge learning experience,"she said.
And Almouqasil is taking full advantage it.
Not speaking the language of your peers makes matters even more complicated for students like Ali Almouqasil.
Almouqasil left his home and family in Qateef, Saudi Arabia, last winter to improve his English at OSU's English Language Institute.
"It's very challenging," Almouqasil said. "I have to adjust to a new life."
Different food, friends, language and customs are only a few of the things to get used to.
But Almouqasil decided to take a plunge and join the Delta Upsilon fraternity this fall.
He said that this has helped him tremendously with his English and adjusting to life in a different country.
"It's a sense of being off-balance," Deborah Healey, director of the ELI, said. "Even after the jet lag wears off, things stay different."
Almouqasi agrees that the drastically different climate was one of the first things he noticed.
"It's too cold here," he said.
A friend who lived in Corvallis suggested the town because of its size and the accommodating citizens, Almouqasil said.
"Everyone is very nice," he said. "I have not found anyone who is not nice."
Almouqasil said it has taken him four or five months to learn English.
"For the first three months I lived with Arab guys," Almouqasil said. "My English was not so good."
But through the fraternity Almouqasil found his way to take on the whole college experience.
"There's no better way to enjoy college life," Jeff Stephenson said, social chairman of Delta Upsilon. "At any given time you have 30 guys willing to help you out."
Stephenson said that this has helped him tremendously with his English and adjusting to life in a different country.
Almouqasil said being a part of a fraternity encourages him.
"My friends are like brothers," said Almouqasil. "It helps a lot."
He said that living so far from home makes him a bit homesick at times. The next time he sees his family will not be until next summer for a visit home.
"It's an act of courage to leave everything behind," Healey said.
Almouqasil is currently maintaining 18 credits of English in preparation for the test of English as a foriegn language.
If he passes the test, Almouqasil said he plans on pursuing a business degree.
On top of his full class schedule, he still finds time to be involved with intramural volleyball and community service projects with the fraternity.
Healey said she is always amazed at how students can pack up and come to a foreign place.
"It is a huge learning experience,"she said.
And Almouqasil is taking full advantage it.
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