10 places and tips to help you survive at WSU

Staff Reporter|August 8, 2012

For foreign students culture shock can be a big deal. Here are ten tips to help you deal with the changes.

  1. In America it’s all about who you know, so start getting to know the international student groups on campus. Wichita State has 18 country-specific student groups, four non-Christian religious groups, and the International Student Union. The ICU has grown to be one of the largest and strongest student groups on campus, which means it allows more opportunities to make friends and connections. While the ICU can be a great way to branch out from a country-specific group, it doesn’t have the regular meetings that build community. Keep an eye out for advertised Wu Crew one-day events that usually include busing to the volunteering site and a free lunch. They are the perfect occasion to get to know fellow shockers.

     

  2. Even if you passed the English proficiency test required upon arrival, the Intensive English Language Center remains a good resource for honing English skills. Another option for working on English without paying for it: trade languages. Depending on country of origin, an international student could advertise practicing English with someone trying to learn the international student’s native tongue. Also, check the bulletin boards around campus often. You never know when someone will post signs for free or low-cost English tutoring.

     

  3. Get to know your adviser. Many students procrastinate before seeing their adviser. As an international student, your adviser could be an enormous help in figuring out classes and requirements. A good adviser can translate troublesome required classes and make registration a breeze. If you haven’t been assigned an adviser, go to a walk-in advising session and start seeing which adviser will be a good fit. A quick tip: try to see your adviser a week or two before the next term’s registration starts.

     

  4.  Let’s face it—food is a top priority for students of any background. As you get to know WSU, you’ll start to notice the trend: campus events often feature free food. New students should receive a calendar of the year’s events at or around the start of fall term—go through and highlight events that feature free food. Nobody is saying that the hotdogs and hamburgers are good for you, but it’s hard to pass up a free meal when you’re earning work-study wages. Quick Tip: for the final Friday of every month, the Ulrich museum buses students (for free) down to Old Town for a gallery crawl with some galleries offering free refreshments and a chance to experience Wichita culture.

     

  5. It’s hard to be far away from home, especially as the days get shorter and colder. One of the best ways to stave off homesickness is to have traditional cuisine. To the northeast of WSU at E 37th & N Rock is India Emporium, the best for authentic Indian groceries in Wichita. To the south of WSU on E. Douglas is The Spice Merchant; they have the best tea, coffee and spice selection in Wichita. There are quite a few small international grocers spread out across Wichita; you’ll discover your favorite as time goes on but try a few places before you settle on one.

     

  6. Walking or biking to pick up groceries will be common, so get to know the closest stores. The closest options are places like Family Dollar (.9 miles), Save-A-Lot (.9 miles) and Dillons (1.9 miles). A good option at 2.0 miles from the WSU campus is Aldi grocery; cheap basic food items and good produce prices but watch out for over-ripe fruit. If you’re walking try to get cheap canvas grocery bags, they hold up the best and won’t break. Quick note: the area around WSU is not always safe, try to get grocery shopping done during daylight hours if you are not driving. Don’t be an easy target with your hands full at 10 p.m.

     

  7. The Wichita bus system is not the best. However, it can be invaluable when you need to get around and don’t have a car. Go to wichitatransit.org to see bus maps and routes. An adult bus ticket costs $1.75. If you use the bus make sure to carry plenty of coins and $1 bills. When trying a bus system for the first time, try to have a friend come with you. Learning a new bus system in a new country is hard and there’s no reason for you to do it alone. 

     

  8. Hot to cold, Wichita will make finding suitable clothing a challenge. For nicer clothes, you might find yourself shopping at Towne East Mall or on Rock Road, but try not to overlook the value of second-hand stores. The quality will depend on where you go: the DAV Thrift Store on E. Central has so-so quality but decent options, Second Story on E. Douglas has good options, especially for rarely-used winter clothes. It gets cold here and good winter coats are not cheap. If thrift stores don’t appeal to you, garage sales might. The best season for garage sales is spring but a few can be found in early fall—check craiglist.org and the Wichita Eagle for listings. 

     

  9. Stay healthy, visit the Heskett Center to stay fit, and the Student Health Center if you feel ill. Dental cleaning comes fairly cheap from the Dental Hygienist school and is housed in the same hallway as the Health Center in Ahlberg Hall. Spend $8-$10 for a 300-pill bottle of vitamins at the grocery store when you first get to WSU; you’ll appreciate it in December when everyone in your class is sneezing. 

     

  10. Skype! No need for expensive long distance calls, set up a Skype account and coach your family on how to do the same. You’ll be busy making new friends, getting to know Wichita, and surviving your classes—but you still might want to talk to your distant family every once in a while.