Being a College Student at Curry College
About Andres Haas
Andres Haas is a college student at Curry College in Massachusetts. He is majoring in communications and he is in his sophomore year. He is in the student government club and enjoys hanging out with his friends. We talked about how being an international student has impacted him.
“Were there any big surprises when you first arrived at college…?”
“...Probably just [a] different lifestyle. [It’s]... [a] different life back home in Zurich…It’s … easier to get around… Everything [is]... a bit more spread out in the US especially near curry and the city. I thought it would be easier but many times I have to take [a] uber to the city or get a ride… to the city… Everything is a bit different. I… feel like people in curry college... just give a different vibe than in ZIS, they’re… very American.”
“How would you say is the environment, for you…?”
“Sometimes it’s kinda laid back… I mean last year it’s been isolated but it’s been more laid back [now]… many students are locals in Massachusetts. They go home for [the] weekends… Sometimes [I’ve] just been [the] isolated one. Most [of] my friends go home for the weekends… but many… want to hang out with me. I mean obviously, because they know I… can’t go home on the weekends because I’m a student abroad… The vibe just depends… I mean it’s…[a] great student life, Massachusetts… and… in curry…, there’s a great student life I’m just saying the vibe is,… you never feel too bored because you have friends, and if you have more than just friends of curry and friends off campus that helps a lot.”
“Do you think having the support like in your family and in your friends helped you?”
“Yes I did .... Relationships I have with all my friends back home and my family helped me establish healthy [relationships to] see what friendships ... I would want in college… I guess I’ve learned things from… most people from my life you know, you all and the family”
“I would say try to go to many events [when starting college], to meet more people… I would also say… always put yourself out there..”
-Andres Haas
“Well, [communications as a major] opens almost as many doors as business and also I didn’t want to do too much math...and…, in general, I just feel like I can relate to it…”
-Andres Haas
“Being an international student did you ever feel different or something similar to that?”
“Oh, a lot of time like for example people would always assume I’m from Sweden even though I’m from Switzerland but they always get it wrong sometimes, which is annoying… or like… one person likes to lumber everything together in Europe or he once literally called me Andrea Bucheli it’s this Italien opera singer... I feel more American when I’m in Europe and I feel more European when I’m in the US.”
“How do you think your identities are different from other people’s identities?”
“Well I think I’m quite cultural you know because I have a really international family I mean obviously with…, parents… from different backgrounds and… even grandparents from different backgrounds.. and also a sister who [is] adopted from Taiwan… In general, having friends from different countries. I…t feel like my whole live screams international.”
