by Vivian Luu
Copy Editor

International Students from campus recently ventured on a
tour of Seattle.

Co-sponsored by the SCC’s Multicultural/Diversity Edu-
cation Center and International Programs department, the
tour provided students with an insight into life in the Seattle
area, and brought students to Pike Place Market, Westlake Center, Seattle Center and Alki Beach.

Over 50 students marveled at the astonishing views of the towering buildings, appalling architecture and throng of active pedestrians as tour buses came to a stop on the busy streets of Seattle.

                                                                Attendees were divided into two groups in order to                                                                 facilitate more interaction between International Program                                                                 Mentors (a.k.a. “IPMs”), Campus Ambassadors,                                                                 Student Advisors and International Students. One group                                                                 started their tour in the hustle and bustle of Pike Place                                                                 Market, while the other group began their adventure at                                                                 Westlake Center.

Later, members from both tour groups came together at Seattle Center to experience the famous International Fountain and to take group photos. Their day’s journey came to an close when the buses landed on Alki Beach, giving students and guides an opportunity to play group activities that included a combination of Amoeba Wars and Musical Chairs, in addition to enjoying a panoramic view of Downtown Seattle.

When students were asked about their impressions of
Downtown Seattle and the Seattle Tour, they remarked in
astonishment. “It’s fantastic,” says Tim Chen, “It’s my
first time here, so going on the tour is very good.”

Several touristas also took mental notes on the Seattle aes-
thetics. Claire Boediarto said, “It’s colder, but cleaner,” as she perused the eclectic boutiques in Pike’s Place Market. Yuki Ho and Kaho Ng also noted that “the view is attractive and the air is fresh.”

                                                                Overall, students received a very friendly and welcoming                                                                 impression of the city’s social environment. “You can find                                                                 a lot of different people (in Seattle),” said Fung Cheung                                                                 and Franco Wong as they enjoyed live, upbeat street                                                                 music in front of a crowded Starbucks coffee shop.

When Andhika Pudjiadi compared his experiences in the U.S. with those in his native country, he said, “In Indonesia, people really stick with people they know. Things are really different here because everybody is willing to get along with everyone else.”

The Seattle Tour served as an pleasant finale to the International Student Orientation Program (ISOP) orientation week. New students from abroad are advised through this comprehensive orientation one week before the start of each academic quarter.

The program directs students through a battery of placement tests in order to guide them into classes that are appropriate for their academic standing.

Students also attend a 30-minute meeting with an advisor to receive additional assistance for their academic planning.

The orientation also familiarizes new students with the social environment on campus, in addition to acquainting them with other International Students and student leaders such as the International Program Mentors and Campus Ambassadors.

“It was very nice,” said James Huang. “The IPMs care about the new students very much.”

However, the orientation also received quite a bit of criticism. “It was boring, actually,” said Ryan Fong. Several students shared Fong’s views on the week’s progression.

“We tried our best to make it (the orientation) interesting by breaking it up and having fun activities that get the students moving,” says Colleen Ferguson, the assistant director of international education, “but by law, we have certain things we have to cover with them.” Ferguson asserts that the orientation wasn’t all fun and games.

SCC is required by state and federal legislatures to provide their International Students with information on living in the states, traveling and registration requirements for maintaining the status of their Visa. Sitting through these presentations can be rather dull.

On a happier note, Ferguson believes that students may have felt bored because they were already acquainted with the information presented at the program.

Ferguson emphasized, “This group of students seemed more responsible and savvy than past groups.” Incoming students scored surprisingly high on their English placement tests. Some individuals were actually placed into English classes that were beyond the ESL series offered at SCC.

In spite of this, the orientation also needed to focus on students who were still developing their English skills, and thus proceeded in a slow and comprehensible manner so that all incoming International Students will be able to make the best of their time at SCC.

The notion of living abroad and being disconnected from our native culture is somewhat daunting, but this is reality for the International Students at SCC this quarter.

When asked to give students one piece of advice that will travel with them for years to come, Ferguson suggested that they “get involved... outside of their classroom.”