Articles, Events

Homecoming Porch Party!

RSVP by October 16th! 

(Let us know that you are coming)

The Office of Global Educationand Partnerships is hosting its annual

Homecoming Porch Party

On Saturday, October 24th from 9 – 11:30 am.

 With a prime location on George Street, you will be able to enjoy the best parts of the Homecoming Parade without having to go anywhere!

There will be many new people for you to meet including past study abroad participants, Millersville Alumni, professors and faculty.

We will have food and drinks, as well as an opportunity for everyone to vote for their favorite pumpkin from the Pumpkin Carving Contest!

9:00 AM – 11:30 AM Porch Party at the Office of Global Education: This event is free.The party is for international students, past study abroad students, and alumni of Millersville University. Light food and drinks will be provided. This is a time to relax and have a fun Saturday morning. You will have a great view of the Millersville Homecoming Parade!

9:00 AM Millersville Homecoming Parade “Superheroes.” Herr Avenue, Landis Avenue and N. George Street, Millersville. The 19th annual parade includes over 2,000 participants along a two-mile route. One of Lancaster County’s largest parades, with 15-20 varied music groups (i.e., Millersville University and high school bands, drum and bugle corps, bagpipers, U.S. Armed Forces bands, a steel drum band, a Philadelphia Mummers band), floats, impersonators, mascots/inflatable costumed characters, fire and emergency groups, twirlers, antique vehicles and more.

Articles

Fall Break Important Information!

Meal Plan Information over Fall Break

If you are staying on campus over fall break you are probably wondering what, if anything will be open. Not to fear, below are the fall break hours for the dining locations on campus:

Friday, Oct 16th:

  • Upper Deck, North Side Bistro, Galley, Cyber Café, and Campus Grill: Regular Hours
  • The Anchor: 9am – 8pm
  • Starbucks: 8am – 2:30pm

Saturday, OCT 17th:

  • Upper Deck: Brunch from 10:30 – 1pm

Sunday, OCT 18th:

  • Upper Deck: Brunch from 10:30 – 1pm and Dinner 5 – 7pm

Monday, OCT 19th:

  • North Side Bistro: Brunch from 10:30 – 1pm and Dinner 5 – 7pm
  • The Cove: Open 7am – 3pm

Tuesday, OCT 20th:

  • Upper Deck: Brunch from 10:30 – 1pm and Dinner 4 – 7pm
  • The Anchor: 5 – 11pm
  • Juice Bar: Open 6 – 10pm
  • The Cove: Open 7am – 3pm

Wednesday, OCT 21st:

  • All Dining Services return to normal operating hours.

PLEASE NOTE: You will not be able to use your meal plans during fall break, you will only be able to pay using FLEX, Marauder GOLD, VISA, and MASTERCARD. Meal swipes will start again on Tuesday night, for dinner.

  Library Hours during Fall Break

Planning on studying and catching up on your reading over Fall Break? Here are the library hours over fall break so you don’t get stuck walking all the way there only to find out the library is closed. If you do need a place to get away and study but the library is closed, remember, the SMC is always open 24/7!

Friday, OCT 16th: Open 8am – 5pm

Saturday, OCT 17th: CLOSED

Sunday, OCT 18th: CLOSED

Monday, OCT 19th: Open 9am – 5pm

Tuesday, OCT 20th: 9am – 12am (midnight)

Wednesday, OCT 21st: Return to regular hours, 8am – 12am (midnight)

Planning Fall Break – Staying Local vs. Traveling Farther

In many ways, it is hard to believe that Fall Break is almost here. While in other ways, it feels like you have been away from home and in school forever, working hard and studying. Even though we are still a week away from the big weekend, it is a good time to start making plans, be it big or small.

For those of you who are not planning on doing anything big or extravagant for Fall Break, no need to panic, plenty of students are in the same situation. More students than you think use the break as an opportunity to catch up on sleep and homework and opt to stay on campus in Millersville. If you do want to get off campus for fall break, however, you still have plenty of options. Here is a list of ideas for you:

  1. Go home with a friend. Many Millersville students are thrilled to bring a friend home with them to show off, especially if that new friend is an international student. Going home with a friend will allow you to experience some family traditions that you may not have known about or ever experienced in your country. From home-cooked food, to exploring their hometown and meeting your friend’s family, you will get to see a side of life in the US and your friend you are not exposed to here at Millersville. Not only will you be able to experience home life here in the US, you will also be able to build your friendship further and make a friend for life. You never know when you will be back in the US and this is a great way to make lasting friends that you can visit for years to come. So go ahead and ask if you can go home with someone and spend time with their family, you will not regret it!
  2. Go explore. Pittsburg, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C. or Baltimore are all easy to get to and have plenty of things to do. These are perfect locations to visit for a day trip or long weekend, so team up with a friend or two and make a mini-trip out of it!
  3. Take advantage of the great fall weather. Take Advantage of the Fall Weather. It doesn’t have to be bright and sunny for you and your friends to have fun outside. Instead of planning a trip to the coast, you can plan a trip to some nearby mountains or woods. Renting a cabin for a few days is fun and affordable, especially when you split the cost among a few friends. Whether you rent a cabin or not, you can always use the fall season to your advantage. It’s the perfect time for picking apples, pumpkins and any other fruits or vegetables. If there is a lake or river within driving distance, fall break is a beautiful time to go rowing since multicolored leaves should be lazily falling into the water and floating alongside your canoe. Be sure to bring your camera!

Articles

Study Tips for Midterms Exams

Study Tips For Midterm Exams

Exams can be a stressful time for all students, especially when you are trying to plan trips for the upcoming breaks. Knowing how to properly prepare for exams is the key to avoiding stress and acing every single one of your exams, not to mention saving lots of precious time. You may be overwhelmed with all the material you have to cover for your exams, but with a little knowledge you can study for them all and still have time to spare. Here are a few methods that will have you focused and better prepared for exams, without all the stress that comes with it.

  1. Skim: You may be tempted to open up your book and read every word of chapters that were covered in class. Don’t! This is a waste of time. Instead, focus on chapter headings, footnotes, study questions, and chapter reviews and summaries. The course syllabus is your best friend as the subjects listed there are probably the ones the professor deems most important.
  2. Don’t Cram: Say NO to cramming: (Cramming is when you try to study a lot of information in a short amount of time) Study in intervals! Studying in 20-50 minute increments and give yourself 5-10 minutes in between is more beneficial than cramming. Distributing learning over time typically benefits long-term retention more than a short period.
  3. Attend Review Sessions and Study Groups: You may be tempted to skip out on that review session or study group being held by your professor, but this could be a huge mistake. Most of the time, these study sessions cover the main exam topics, and professors usually let more than a few exam questions slip during these meetings.
  4. Enjoy the Silence: If you aren’t attending a study session, find a quiet place where you can stay focused and uninterrupted; the library, an empty classroom, the park. Your dorm room may seem like the most obvious place, but have a plan B ready for when the distractions hit (and they will).
  5. Disconnect from Technology: Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, and email are all unnecessary distractions, so while studying, disconnect for an hour or so. You may be surprised at how much you can accomplish when technology doesn’t get in the way.
  6. Figure out what will be on the exam: No, this doesn’t require any mind reading abilities, but it does require you to listen and pay close attention to your professor. Ask as many questions as necessary, professors will usually try to help as much as they can.
  7. Meet with your Professors: Stop by office hours to discuss difficult concepts, ask questions about lecture material, or just to find out what types of topics the midterm will cover. You may be surprised at how much your professor is willing to share.
  8. Stay Healthy: During midterms, it’s easy to overindulge on junk food, up your caffeine intake, and basically suspend all personal hygiene (you won’t be interacting with anyone anyway) — never mind the fact that you have no time to make it to the gym. Don’t fall into this rut. Instead, schedule time for healthy meals and regular exercise, and don’t forget about that shower! You may just find that these breaks help you stay focused.
  9. Take Study Breaks: Consequently, a 12-hour marathon study session won’t do anything but make you crazy. Instead, take short breaks every hour or so, even if only for 10 minutes. Leave your study area when you do — that bit of fresh air may be just what you needed to clear your head.
  10. Exam Day: It’s finally here! Don’t let all of your hard work go to waste by rushing to class, cramming while on the walk there and confusing all the terms that you just spent all night learning. Relax, take a deep breath, use the restroom before you take your exam, make sure you have water or something to drink on you and go into the classroom with a clear mindset.

Follow these top ten tips, and you’ll be in a far better position to ace those exams than you could have imagined!

 

Articles

So You Want to Transfer to MU?

Transferring to Millersville University: From short-term student to degree-seeking student.

 

Now that you are here at Millersville, the information below explains the steps you need to take in order to transfer and becoming a degree-seeking student.

The materials required for admission as an international student are listed below:

  1. Please apply via our Online Application or print out the International Student Application, complete the information and return it by mail with the $50.00 application fee.
  2. A copy of your passport
  3. A copy of your Permanent Residency Card (if you have one)
  4. A certified copy of the secondary school transcript, accompanied by a certified English translation if the original is not in English. Certified copies must be prepared by a school or education ministry official, bear the original seal and signature of the school or official who prepares it and be mailed directly to the Admission Office. Please keep your original. 
  5. Proof of English language proficiency: Official TOEFL scores required if an applicant is a non-native speaker of English are: 550 on the paper-based test, 213 on the computer-based test, or 70 on the internet-based test. The institutional code for reporting TOEFL scores to Millersville University is 2656. In lieu of the TOEFL, English language proficiency may be demonstrated by earning a score of “6” or higher on the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) exam. If transferring from an accredited American institution of higher education, a grade of “C” or higher in standard (i.e. Non-remedial or ESL) college level English Composition will satisfy proficiency requirements.
  6. Native speakers of English must submit SAT I or ACT scores. The institutional code for reporting SAT I is 2656; the reporting code for ACT is 3712.
  7. Students who intend to compete in intercollegiate athletics must submit either SAT I or ACT scores.
  8. Certified national examination results, if available (example: “O” levels for Kenyan National Examination Certificate).
  9. A completed Source of Funds Form demonstrating the availability of at least $25,000 for each regular academic year. Please print out the form, complete the information and return it by mail.
  10. A completed Financial Need and Scholarship Form to determine eligibility for scholarship assistance. Please print out the form, complete the information and return it by mail.
  11. Transfer applicants should also request that original language transcripts, accompanied by certified English translations be sent directly to the admission office by an official from each college or university previously attended. These records should also be sent to a certified credential evaluation service (www.WES.org or www.AACRAO.org) with a request that the evaluation results be mailed directly to the admissions office.
If you have any questions you can email the Office of Global Education and we will connect you with an admissions coordinator. 

The WES Evaluation: http://www.wes.org/

 

The WES evaluation process can take up to several months depending on what country you are from and your country’s agencies that you need to work with. If you would like to transfer to MU, start on your WES evaluation as soon as possible! The WES evaluation takes the courses you completed at your home university and tells US universities what courses can be accepted. Completing the evaluation is necessary so that you do not repeat courses you have already taken at home; it is important for class registration. If you do not want to transfer credits from your home institution but you want to get your degree at Millersville, you would be considered a first year student. This means that you may need to take pre-requisite courses or general education classes.

Pre-Requisite Class: A class you need to take that gives you the foundation of a subject. (Ex. You must take Math 101 before you can take the Financial Accounting 161 class).

General Education Requirements at Millersville: Many universities in the US require students to take general education classes in order to understand the foundations of different disciplines and majors.  The following are some examples of general education sections at MU.

Foundations for Lifelong Learning

  • ENGL 110 English Composition
  • COMM 100 Fundamentals of Speech
  • MATH 1XX GenEd Approved Mathematics course
  • One Upper Level Writing (AW) Course

Arts & Humanities (G1 Block)

  • Art
  • Communication & Theatre
  • English
  • Foreign Languages & Humanities
  • Music
  • Philosophy

Science & Mathematics (G2 Block)

You must take at least two courses from these departments (including at least one lab):

  • Biology
  • Chemistry
  • Earth Sciences
  • Physics

You may also take approved courses from these departments:

  • Computer Science (courses do not count as a natural science).
  • Mathematics (additional to foundations required math course).
  • Nursing

Social Sciences (G3 Block)

  • African-American Studies
  • Anthropology
  • Business Administration
  • Economics
  • Geography
  • Government & International Studies
  • History
  • Psychology
  • Sociology
  • Social Work/Gerontology
  • Women’s Studies

Connections & Exploration/Cultural Diversity

  • First-Year Inquiry Seminar (FYI, UNIV 103)
  • Perspectives (P) Course
  • Wellness/Health Education Course (WELL 175 or 240)
  • Cultural Diversity & Community (D) Course
Articles

Lancaster Food

Tired of the food on campus? Need ideas for good food on the weekends?!

Check out the diverse selection of restaurants and cafes Lancaster has to offer!

Known for its large selection of ethnic food, Lancaster is a great place to get your favorite foods or maybe even try something new. With a large Asian and Spanish influence, as well as great American and Irish pubs and restaurants, you will always find something good to eat. Check out just a few of the most popular places below:

Asian Cuisine

Issei Noodle – 44 North Queen St. Lancaster, PA

  • Issei Noodle incorporates the age-old tradition and art of cooking fresh forms of Ramen, Vietnamese Pho, and other Asian-infused style noodles from the Pacific Rim.
  • Hours: Tuesday-Saturday 11am-2:15pm, 5-8:15pm
  • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IsseiLancaster?fref=ts

Narai Exotic Thai Cuisine – Lancaster Central Market 23 North Market St. Lancaster, PA

  • Narai offers delectable Thai entrees including some traditional favorites such as Pad Thai, Lemon Grass Chicken, and the famously spicy Evil Jungle Princess. If light fare is your choice on your next visit to market, you have to try the fresh-made Spring Rolls for which Narai has become famous. If by the end of lunch you can find one of their spring rolls left, consider yourself very fortunate.
  • Hours: Tuesday & Friday: 6am-4pm, Saturday: 6am-2pm
  • Website: http://www.centralmarketlancaster.com/directory/view/narai-exotic-thai-cuisine

Noodle King Vietnamese Restaurant – 216 North Duke St. Lancaster, PA

  • The owner Trang Vu and her husband decided to bring the tastes of their homeland to Lancaster when they moved here and started a family. With close ties to their small community back in Nam Dinh, they wanted to use fresh ingredients and spices from Vietnam. Their restaurant imports all the spices and ingredients from local farmers and family farms in Vietnam. Noodle King specializes in the traditional Pho Bac (Northern Vietnamese pho) dish, whose particular recipe has been passed down within the Vu’s family for generations.
  • Hours: Monday – Friday 11am-9pm, and Saturday 12-9pm
  • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/minhsnoodlehouse?fref=ts

Himalayan Curry & Grill – 22 East Orange St. Lancaster, PA

  • Offering a full menu of Indian and Nepalese specialties, Himalayan Curry & Grill creates an unsurpassed experience in Indian dining, with an exotic menu of dishes made with the finest ingredients. A great place to get a taste of something different during the week, they offer a Monday night dinner buffet and weekday lunch buffet as well as take out.
  • Hours: Monday – Saturday 11:30am-2:30pm and 5:00-9:00pm
  • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Himalayan-Curry-and-Grill-293210077447873/timeline/

Mount Pepper – 1930 Columbia Ave, Lancaster, PA 17603

  • This is a new restaurant that features Sichuan Cuisine. The food is prepared in a style traditional in Chongqing, a province in southwest China known for its distinctively spicy and pungent flavors. They serve poultry, pork, beef, lamb and seafood dishes as well as soups, dry hot-pot dishes and rice and noodles. Read about it in the Lancaster Online Newspaper: https://www.facebook.com/mountpepper?_rdr=p
  • Hours: Monday – Friday-Thursday 11-9:30pm, Friday- Saturday 11-10pm, Sunday 12-9pm

Spanish Style Cuisine

La Costena Restaurant – 315 West King St. Lancaster, PA

  • La Costena is a Peruvian restaurant offering the best in Peruvian cuisine, with authentic Peruvian dishes and drinks like Golden Peruvian soda. Some favorites on the menu include lomo saltado, ceviche and their tamales.
  • Hours: Tuesday – Thursday 11-8pm, Friday & Saturday 11-10pm, and Sunday 11-8pm
  • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/La-Costena-Restaurant-246223442155424/timeline/

American and Other Cuisine

Annie Bailey’s Irish Pub and Restaurant – 28 East King St. Lancaster, PA

  • Lancaster’s only authentic Irish Pub and one of the favorite dining destinations in the county, Annie Bailey’s has become a staple in downtown Lancaster. The menu offers traditional Irish Fare as well some modern American cuisine and an extensive beer selection. The extensive beer selection has earned many awards and they have some great whiskeys on the shelves as well. So if you can’t go to Ireland, go to Annie Baileys.
  • Hours: Sunday – Saturday 11am-2am
  • Website: http://www.anniebaileys.com/

Federal Taphouse – 201 North Queen St. Lancaster, PA

  • The Federal Taphouse features 100 seasonally-rotating craft brews on tap, with wood-fired artisan pizza, appetizers, sandwiches, entrees desserts and a full bar.
  • Hours: Mon-Fri 11:30am-2:00am, Saturday 11am-2am, and Sunday 10:30am – 2am
  • Website: http://www.federaltaphouselanc.com/

Horse Inn – 540 East Fulton St. Lancaster, PA

  • Known for its alley entrance and tenderloin tips on toast, the Horse Inn has a long history in Lancaster City dating back to the mid-1800s. In the 1920s the Shaub family converted the upstairs hayloft to a speakeasy where neighbors and friends could play shuffleboard and drink. The new owners have embraced the history of the Horse Inn by bringing back the game of shuffleboard for patrons. The ever changing menu focuses on using local ingredients from surrounding farmers as well as the Central Market. The bar serves a variety of craft and draught beers, fresh squeezed juices, house made syrups and classic cocktails.
  • Hours: Tuesday – Thursday 4pm-12am midnight, Friday & Saturday 4pm-1am
  • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Horse-Inn-139115489494178/timeline/

Breakfast & Brunch

Sugar on Top – 126 North George St. Millersville, PA

  • Sugar on Top, a gourmet doughnut shop, offers a variety of its signature doughnuts such as chocolate covered pretzel, Snickers bar and salted caramel. It also gives customers the option of customizing their own doughnuts, beginning with a vanilla or chocolate cake doughnut and then selecting from 30 different toppings.
  • Hours: Monday – Wednesday, Friday  8am-1pm and Saturday and Sunday 8am-2pm
  • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sugarontopMU?_rdr=p

Rachel’s Café & Creperie – 201 West Walnut St. Lancaster, PA

Prince Street Café – 15 North Prince St. Lancaster, PA

  • You’ll love the pace of this downtown coffee shop. It provides you a place to relax and take a break, read a book, meet a friend or work on your laptop, with free WI-FI, the Prince Street Cafe is a great place to study! In addition to great coffee, they serve gourmet soups, salads, sandwiches and desserts, and you can listen to local jazz and acoustic musicians.
  • Hours: Open every day from 6:30am – 11pm

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PrinceStreetCafe/timeline

Articles

Academic Support

Need Help? Check out MU’s Academic Resources and Services  

RESEARCH – Library Tools and Resources

If you are interested in or need research help for a paper or project, stop by the library for more information. There is a librarian for each major here at Millersville, available for one-on-one or group research appointments to help you. If you don’t have time to stop by the library or the library is closed, use the “Ask a Librarian” feature on the Library website to ask a question and you will get a response within one day.

Ask a Librarian – http://www.library.millersville.edu/tools-services/ask-librarian

Contact Information for Research Help: Call or Text: 717-842-0542

Office Hours: Sun: 6-9pm, M-Th 9am-5pm and 7-9pm, and F 9am-12pm

 

WRITING – Chryst Writing Center

Are you having trouble starting your paper? Are you unsure if your paper makes sense? Do you have questions, or just need someone to look at your paper before handing it in? At the Chryst Writing Center and Annex, you will meet one-on-one with a trained peer tutor who will help you with your paper at any stage of the writing process!

The writing center is located in Chryst Hall room 109B. Appointments last for 30 minutes.
Office Hours: M-Th 11:00am -4:00pm

TUTORING – Tutoring Center

The MU tutoring Center, located in Lyle Hall, is responsible for providing tutoring services at no cost to all Millersville University students in various subjects. The Tutoring Center also offers specialty workshops on time-management, organization, note-taking, critical thinking, and study skills. They also offer services on an individual basis for specific needs. Feel free to contact their office with any questions regarding their services and how to set up a tutoring session today. They offer group tutoring sessions in the following subjects:

  • Biology
  • Business
  • Chemistry
  • Computer Science
  • Earth Science
  • Economics
  • Physics

*Please Note: Tutoring help is not limited to these subjects, contact your professor if you are having difficulties in a class, they will be able to help you. Also the Tutoring Center offers general tutors that are not subject specific.

Office: Lyle Hall, Room 355 on the 3rd floor.
Office Hours: M-Th 10am-4:30pm, and  F 10:00am-3pm
Phone: 717-871-7222

 

Website: http://www.millersville.edu/tutoringcenter/individualgroup.php

 

Articles

Getting a Driver’s License

Eligibility for getting a driver’s license

Many non-immigrants and their dependents obtain a Pennsylvania (PA) driver’s license through the PA Department of Transportation (PennDOT).Each state has different requirements for the issuance of driver’s licenses and state ID cards. This post provides detailed information for  F-1 and  J-1 visitors who wish to obtain a PA driver’s license. To be eligible for a PA driver’s license, a non-immigrant must have at least one year remaining on their immigration document (I-20 or DS- 2019). Generally, visitors who will be in the US for less than one year are expected to use their home country driver’s license plus the international driver’s permit (in English). International driver’s permits must be obtained outside of the US.

Steps to getting a driver’s license

  1. Read the driving rules and regulations for Pennsylvania. PA Driving Manual Know the rules of driving in the U.S.! They can be very different from your home country.
  2. Wait at least ten days after arriving in the United States to apply for a driver’s license so that your Form I-94, “Arrival/Departure Record” information can update in all the government systems.
  3. If your state requires a Social Security number (SSN) to apply for a driver’s license, go to your local Social Security Administration (SSA) office and apply for an SSN. Pennsylvania requires you to have a Social Security number.
  4. Visit Lancaster’s Driver’s License Center here. 
  5. When you go to your local DMV, bring originals of the following documents:
    1. Driver’s License Application
    2. I-20.
    3. I-94
    4. A valid passport with visa
    5. Proof of residence. This varies from state to state and might be a bill or a letter addressed to you, a lease, a utility bill, US bank statement,  an official letter from the Housing Office or Landlord.
    6. Your Social Security card or a Form SSA-L676
    7. Verification Letter from the Office of Global Education

You may have to take a driving test and a written test, in addition to a vision exam at the office. In many states, if you have a license from your home country or another state, the DMV may not require you to take the tests. Please note that not all states accept driver’s licenses from other countries.

Once you pass the tests, if required, and submit all the necessary paperwork, an associate at the DMV will explain the next steps. It is normal for some non-immigrants to only get temporary licenses. In Pennsylvania, you are issued a temporary license and your official license gets mailed to your local address.

Notes for Driving in Pennsylvania

Many roads in Pennsylvania are very dangerous to drive in. This area of PA has many small farm roads, and sometimes there are one lane bridges where two lanes of traffic meet together. Pay attention to the road signs. They will tell you if the road converges into one lane. Other signs will tell you if you are driving in a deer area. Be careful of driving during the early evening when deer some out and wander near the roads.

In addition, Lancaster County has a high population of Amish and Mennonite families that drive horse and buggies, seen in the above picture. Small narrow roads and horse and buggies can be a dangerous combination. Slow down, and wait until oncoming traffic is clear and you can slowly pass them to drive around.

In the winter time, Lancaster County gets a lot of snow and the roads can become blocked or slippery. Ice and snow are common during the winter. Please use your judgement while driving under harsh conditions.

Be safe while Driving!

Articles, Events

Volunteer for the Multicultural Showcase

Millersville University’s Multicultural Showcase Committee is seeking your help!

 

The  Multicultural Showcase Committee is looking for interested international students to be information resources for this year’s Multicultural Showcase.

What is the Multicultural Showcase?

This is an event to help educate Millersville students on different cultures from around the world through entertainment, by using student/club presenters and educators, and sharing good food. Student organizations choose a country or culture to represent, setup a table with their country/culture and become part of the overall event. The showcase is on Nov 18th from 6-9pm in the SMC MPR. https://getinvolved.millersville.edu/organization/CSIL/calendar/details/668204 

This year’s theme is concentrating on countries represented by the students at MU. We hope to show the campus just how diverse Millersville’s population is!

How can you help/volunteer?

The committee is looking for interested students to be resources for the student organizations so that they can represent their country/culture as best as possible. If you are interested in assisting the committee to put on the best showcase possible and be part of something great at MU, please contact Adesola Adebakin, aaadebak@millersville.edu. Please let them know what country or culture you would like to help represent or which one you would like to help provide information for.

Thank you!

Articles

Fall American Traditions

Fall Fun: Activities and Traditions in the U.S.

Now that Autumn, or Fall as we like to call it, is just around the corner you are probably encountering all kinds of new traditions you have never heard of before!

You will start hearing people talk about Pumpkin Spiced Lattes at Starbucks and how much they love Pumpkin Bread and Halloween. You will have people ask if you go apple or pumpkin picking, and when you say no they will be shocked. Welcome to Fall in Pennsylvania, here are a few of our favorite Fall activities and traditions we like to do when the leaves start to change color and the air cools down.

Fun Fall Activities and Traditions:

    • Halloween – It is thought to have originated with the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, when people would light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off roaming ghosts. This would occur on the night of October 31st when they believed that the ghosts of the dead returned to earth. Although this is an old myth about the origins of Halloween, the night is now known for its nighttime trick-or-treating, costumes, spooky movie and attractions.
    • Trick-or-Treat – A tradition since the 1920’s, children and adults of all ages dress up in various costumes on October 31st, for Halloween, and go door to door in search of candy.
      • The customary “Trick-or-Treat” saying when you knock on a door is a threat to the homeowner that you will play a “trick” on them if they do not offer you a “treat”, and thus the saying was born.
    • Costume Parties – As children grow older it is more common for them to attend costume parties instead of Trick-or-Treating. Costume parties are a great way to express yourself. You can see funny costumes, scary costumes, couples or friends dressing up together with a theme, and even celebrity impersonators.
  • Pumpkin Picking – When the pumpkins are ripe and ready for picking in
  • the fall, families and friends get together and go to local farms to have fun picking the very biggest and best pumpkins. Then they use those pumpkins for all kinds of fun fall ideas. Oftentimes people use pumpkins in cooking fall cuisine or decorating their front yard.
  • Pumpkin Carving– You have to do something with all those pumpkins, and the best way to use them is to carve them and make them into lanterns with funny and scary faces!People love to carve pumpkins for Halloween especially, often making scary Jack-O-Lanterns like to picture you see above.
  • Apple Picking – The best apples are ripe for picking in the fall and make the best apples pies. It’s fun to spend the day with friends picking and tasting all the apples, and then taking them home to make a delicious treat.
  • Bobbing For Apples – A creative way to play with all the apples you just picked is to go bobbing for them! A favorite fall game, you fill a large bucket filled with water and apples, and you have to go fishing for them. There is one catch, however, you can’t use your hands; you have to put your hands behind your back and try to get the apple out with your teeth! Can you do it?
  • Watch Halloween and Scary Movies – Every October in anticipation of Halloween and the fall season, many people like to watch traditional Halloween movies and scary movies.
    • Halloween, The Addams Family, Hocus Pocus, Practical Magic, The Nightmare Before Christmas and The Rocky Horror Picture Show – all of these movies play on TV during the month of October.
    • These movies are NOT scary, they are just considered classics and are Halloween or Fall/Autumn themed, but there are plenty of scary horror movies to watch in the fall, just look for them! New scary movies come out in theaters in the U.S. every year! 

 This is just a taste of what Fall is all about here in the U.S. and we hope this helps you understand some of our strange obsession with pumpkins, costumes, and scary movies. Hopefully you will come to love these traditions just as much as we do!

Articles

Culture Shock

3 Comments

Culture Shock: Adjusting to Life in the United States

Now that you are finally here in the U.S. attending classes, making new friends and learning about the American culture, you are probably noticing a lot of differences. These differences can be good and bad, and at first you may love everything about your new life abroad. However, it is common for students to feel “culture shock” when moving to and living in a new country.

What is culture shock?

When moving to a new country everything is unfamiliar; from the weather, language and food, to the fashion, values, and customs. Culture shock is a normal part of study abroad, and shows that you are aware of and experiencing the differences between your home country and that of the American culture. Some students go through culture shock and others may not experience these differences, everyone adjusts to new environments and culture in their own ways.

There are four stages when adapting to a new culture. Some people go through the process quicker and with less stress, while others go through the stages slower and find it difficult to adjust to the differences.

Stage I: The Honeymoon – Initial euphoria and excitement

You feel you are able to handle anything, some characteristics include:

  • Excitement about new sights and surroundings.
  • Engaging in tourist-like activities in the host culture.
  • Intrigue with both similarities and differences between the American culture and your home culture.
  • Lots of interest in learning, very motivated and open-minded.

 Stage II: Anxiety | Culture shock – Frustration and hostility towards differences

The novelty of the American culture has worn off. Your feelings in this stage may include:

  • A focus on the differences between your new culture and your home culture. Stereotypes and prejudices surface.
  • Small issues feel like major catastrophes; you become overly stressed out by small problems and feel helpless and frustrated.
  • Homesickness; missing your family and friends from home.

Stage III: Adjusting – Finding humor and perspective

In this stage, you decide to make the most of your experience. You may also have the following reactions:

  • Increased familiarity with the new culture, its logic and values.
  • Adjustment gradually occurs.
  • A return of your sense of humor about differences.
  • Recognition that you like some parts of the American culture better than that of your home country.
  • Deeper learning about life abroad.
  • Questioning of your previous assumptions about the world.

Stage IV: Acceptance | “Feeling at Home” – Adaptation

You now exhibit a new-found appreciate towards certain aspects of the new culture, and critique others. Common reactions at this stage include:

  • Feeling at home in the “foreign” country.
  • Feeling a sense of understanding and association with the new culture.
  • No longer being negatively affected by differences in culture.
  • Living, studying and working to your full potential.
  • Feeling satisfaction in adjusting and surviving a semester abroad.

Ways to Diminish Feelings of Culture Shock:

  • Make plans for keeping in touch with family and friends. Having a set “date” to talk to friends and family can help you get through a difficult week.
  • Find excitement and enjoyment in sharing your experiences. Update your Facebook with all your exciting adventures so that you can share your stories and excitement about being abroad.
  • “Dive” into your host culture fully and wholeheartedly. There is no better way to adjust than to dive right in!
  • Keep an open mind; it is natural to have preconceived ideas and beliefs that come into question while abroad. You will learn much more if you keep an open mind to new experiences.
  • Join a sports team or athletic activity! Joining a team sport helps you meet new people and exercising in general boosts your bodies’ happiness.
  • Get to know other student at Millersville, join a club or organization and become involved on campus
  • Make a local friend with whom you can discuss your frustrations and encounters with, share the good stories and the bad.
  • Learn as much as you can about your host culture. The more you know, the more you appreciate the differences and similarities.
  • Keep a journal. Record your impressions of new experiences and the transformations that are occurring within you. You will have something fun to read later in life to reflect on your time abroad!

International Student News