By: Rhea Yokum

Have you ever wondered what it is like to be an international student at WVWC? Three students gave us a closer look. 

West Virginia Wesleyan College is a school full of diversity with students from 36 different states and 21 differing countries. International students add to the excitement and diversity of the campus community. With interviews from three fellow students, Emilie Bergmann, Daria Godlewska, and Andrea Martínez Garrido we get an inside look at their experiences as international students at WVWC so far. 

Freshman, Emilie Bergmann is from Stuttgart, Germany. A bustling city filled with museums, shopping, fine dining and a multitude of attractions. Upon Bergmann’s arrival she was shocked at all the nature surrounding the campus, saying, “It was nice to see all the trees and green on campus. I found the campus to be bigger than imagined and very beautiful.” In contrast to where she is from, Buckhannon is substantially smaller, she emphasized the differences in dining and leisurely activities here compared to home. When asked what it is like to be so far from home she answered, “Being away from home was difficult at first, but I am doing well now. Of course, I miss my friends and family, but I have found that everyone is friendly. I have also met good friends already which makes being far away from family much easier.” Bergmann then shared that her favorite thing about West Virginia Wesleyan is the campus, noting that seeing people walk their dogs and be with their friends gives a home-like atmosphere. 

Daria Godlewska, another freshman, is from Zoetermeer, Netherlands.  It was late at night when Godlewska arrived on campus, and her first reaction was, “Oh my God this is huge. Everything in America is huge.” When she saw the campus in the light the next day, she realized how beautiful it was. Buckhannon is much different from where Godlewska is from; she stated, “Once it gets to a certain time, I never see people here. Back home you always see people, there is always something going on, but here it is quiet. Americans also enjoy small talk, which is something I am not used to. The people are much friendlier here.” She also revealed that being away from home was not as difficult as she anticipated, “I thought it would be way worse, it was still weird for a while, but I am used to not having my family around now. I still text them a lot and call when I can.” Godlewska said she loves the kindness you receive from everybody at WVWC and the friends she has begun to make. 

Andrea Martínez Garrido, the last interviewee, is a freshman from Monterrey, Mexico. Coming from a very large city Garrido said that she immediately noticed the campus was not fenced in. “Back home most things are fenced in like schools, universities, and neighborhoods” she said, “At first this made me a little uneasy, but I came to realize Buckhannon is a small safe town.” Garrido shared that being in a small town has been challenging for her, she enjoys the atmosphere of big cities and having a variety of things to do but she is adjusting. When asked how it feels to be so far from home she replied, “I like it. This is not the first time I have traveled away from home without my family. I like the sense of independence and traveling to new places.” Garrido noted that she loves seeing the nature around campus, her new friends, and the bonds she is creating on the tennis team.

Photo by Rhea Yokum

Pictured right to left: Emilie Bergmann, Andrea Martínez Garrido, Daria Godlewska