The Journal

Issue date: 3/22/07 Section: LifeStyle

Media Credit: Ashley Gieseking Sophomore Daniela Jimenez from Ecuador, freshman Tatenda Chibanga from Zimbabwe and sophomore Sayuki Miyabe from Japan sit beneath the flags of the University Center March 20.

Tatenda Chibanga, a freshman pre-med major from Harare, Zimbabwe, did not have an easy time getting to Webster University. After 23 hours on a plane - 12 from Zimbabwe to London, 10 from London to Chicago and another hour to St. Louis - he arrived at Lambert International Airport Aug. 17, 2006 confused and alone.


"I was expecting it to be cold," he said. "I was in for a surprise."


He was in for another surprise when no one was at the airport to greet him, despite having made a pick-up appointment with the university. Stranded in St. Louis with no phone and a suitcase so heavy he couldn't lift it, he was forced to get a cab. To make matters worse, the cab driver had no idea where Webster Groves was. An hour and a half and four phone calls later, the driver finally figured out how to get to Webster University, where Chibanga spent another 20 minutes trying to find the residence halls.


"I can safely say it was the worst day of my life," he said.


Although Webster arranges airport pick-up for international students, one of Chibanga's flights was rescheduled, resulting in the mix-up. Chibanga said the rest of his experiences at Webster have been more pleasant.


"The people in St. Louis and at Webster have been great," he said. "I got to meet people with different personalities, backgrounds and beliefs I would never have found at home."


Chibanga describes Zimbabwe as a conservative country with "a lot of weird laws," such as the Public Order and Security Act, which requires citizens to apply to the government in writing and four days in advance if they wish to hold a public gathering.


Webster's international student population is comprised of hundreds of students from countries all across the world. Surrounded by a new environment, international students are often faced with many challenges. The Multicultural Center and International Student Affairs, located on the ground floor of Loretto Hall, helps international students adjust to life at Webster and in the United States.

Continued...

Page 1 of 4 next >

Article Tools