# @vanderbiltu on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/CHs5MNZhrVH
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/9037822-vanderbiltu-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/thumbnails/5aa53f6d6b.jpg
- **Posted:** 2020-11-17T18:11:33.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** Vanderbilt University (@VanderbiltU) — https://gondola.cc/VanderbiltU

## Caption

Happy #InternationalStudentDay! Regram from @vuartsci:

🌍 International Student Spotlight 🌍⁠⠀
⁠⠀
Joyce Kariuki '22⁠⠀
Major: Molecular & Cellular Biology⁠⠀
Hometown: Ruiru Town, Kiambu County, Kenya⁠⠀
⁠⠀
Q: Why did you want to study in the U.S.?⁠⠀
A: I wanted to get immersed in a different environment than the one I was used to. I also wanted to acquire a top-notch education from one of the world's leading countries.⁠⠀
⁠⠀
Q: What’s been your favorite thing about Vanderbilt so far?⁠⠀
A: The Vanderbilt community. There are lots of opportunities for students to meet and build connections with other students and professors.⁠⠀
⁠⠀
Q: What’s the most interesting thing you’ve learned so far?⁠⠀
A: I took an honors seminar on climate change and got to attend the United Nations Climate Change Conference. The class changed my perspective on climate change and made me question my lifestyle choices: How much am I contributing to the problem? Can I make a few changes to be part of the solution? ⁠⠀
⁠⠀
Q: What’s been your biggest challenge as an international student, and how have you overcome it?⁠⠀
A: Cultural shock. The people are different, the food is different, the accents are different, people’s opinions are different, even the measuring system is different. I’m still overcoming this challenge. Doing activities such as camping and road trips with other students has helped me appreciate both cultures.⁠⠀
⁠⠀
Q: What is special about the international student experience?⁠⠀
A: I like to think of us as hybrids. We get the best (and worst) of both countries. Ultimately, the international student who graduates is a product of the best of both (or several) countries.⁠⠀
⁠⠀
Q: How can your fellow Commodores help international students feel welcome?⁠⠀
A: Take an extra step to learn about their culture. To fit in, international students learn about American culture, and sometimes we forget we had another identity before coming to Vanderbilt. It's nice when fellow students appreciate our presence and try to learn about where we come from. ⁠⠀
⁠
@vuisss #InternationalEducationWeek #VUArtSciStudents #InternationalStudents #IntellectualOmnivore #VUArtsci #VandyGram⁠⠀
⁠⠀
📷 : @joyce_bedan

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## Tags

intellectualomnivore, vuartsci, internationalstudentday, internationaleducationweek, internationalstudents, vandygram, vuartscistudents

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