Becoming International / Working and Writing for Change (PDF)

Becoming International: Musings on Studying Abroad in America
This collection of flash nonfiction chronicles the experiences of international students as they leave home, cross borders, and begin their studies in the United States. Sometimes humorous, often profound, their writings illustrate the peculiar process of becoming international.

All of the authors in this book are international students. This collection aims to not only illuminate their experiences but also celebrate the distinct beauty of writing produced by students learning a second language.

A timely mediation on arriving in America, Becoming International: Musings on Studying Abroad in America is a perfect companion for those planning to study abroad or anyone interested in creating international spaces on college campuses.

"In exploring the notion of "home," the authors in this collection . . . evoke familiar themes of homesickness, childhood memories, and the exciting yet daunting prospect of change. Additionally, they inform and connect us, because, not in spite, of the unfamiliarities in their experiences from our own. And where there are disparities, they have created sites for cross-cultural learning, compassion, and acknowledgment of our own privileges. Their writing demonstrates that minority students finding themselves in the contact zone of their "home" and new "host" cultures can wield their stories to cope with change and negotiate their self-identities in generative, community-building ways." - Charissa Che, University of Utah