Amongst the 2,320 learners in the Course of 2025, 15.6% appear from outside the house the United States. Moving from high faculty to higher education is a momentous transition for everyone, but likely by this improve in a foreign region necessitates adjusting to new foods, teachers, and cultural dynamics. Five pupils reflect on their changeover to campus this yr.
Nayeli Cardozo ’25 is the only pupil from Argentina in the Course of 2025. She used her entire existence there, and very first frequented the United States for a summertime application at the College of California.
Joel Runevic ’25 is from the United Kingdom. His mother and father are from Lithuania and moved to the U.K.. right before he was born. He has frequented his relatives in the U.S. a few instances ahead of coming to Harvard in the fall.
Alejandro Escobar ’25 is from Columbia. His first working experience in the United States was all through his gap 12 months before Harvard.
Eric Hwang ’25 was born in Redwood Town, California and moved to South Korea with his family members in eighth grade. He has constantly lived in Korea till he came to Harvard in the tumble.
Jimena Luque ’25 was born in the U.S. but moved to Peru as early as she can recall. She once in a while visited the States on holiday vacation till she came to Harvard in the fall.
What have been your preconceptions on American food items?
Cardozo: “American meals is greasy and fatty. And in movies I’ve observed that People try to eat bacon and eggs for breakfast, which is anything we commonly don’t do in Argentina. We have a person McDonalds exactly where I dwell, but it’s not really a quickly foodstuff put.”
Escobar: “We experienced burger destinations, but I wouldn’t essentially say they were being American. And of system, we had the huge food stuff chains, but I have a difficult time defining American foodstuff.”
Runevic: “We experienced hamburgers and corndogs and stuff. English meals is not way too fantastic. The only reason it is good is due to the fact it’s multicultural.”
Hwang: “There are a whole lot of great American restaurants in Korea, but their food stuff doesn’t quite strike the very same. I really don’t know, you idealize American food although you’re at house.”
Luque: “Peru has the very best food internationally. It’s the richness of the taste and the simple fact that you can get amazing, nutritionally-rich meals for minimal prices. I did not assume American foodstuff was likely to be that terrific when compared to Peru’s, and I was correct.”
How is Harvard food items?
Cardozo: “I like dining hall food items most days. I definitely like heading out to eat. Dumpling Home is my favored.”
Escobar: “I would give [Harvard Square] an 8 or 9 for the reason that I imagine there’s a large amount of choices, and it’s incredibly global. If I’m craving sushi, there is a excellent sushi put. If I’m craving burgers, there’s a great burger put.”
Runevic: “I’m seriously appreciative of the meals at Harvard. I know they have to cook for 2,000 as well as students and have to take into account things like allergy symptoms and customs.”
Hwang: “Berg has gotten better. That currently being claimed, I’ve misplaced fat because I have gotten in this article. Berg meals would make me eat fewer.”
Luque: “Peruvian food is greater, but I do recognize the HUDs personnel for their initiatives to give pupils with sufficient diet. I also enjoy how in Boston you can consider a selection of various cuisines, which is a thing I couldn’t do as considerably back again house.”
How was the academic changeover?
Cardozo: “I predicted anyone to be concentrated on their work and incredibly competitive, and perhaps certainly, we have those people persons below, but fortunately I have not achieved them nevertheless. I’ve only fulfilled people who have been extremely uplifting and helpful.”
Escobar: “I anticipated there to be much less function on the weekends and a separation concerning social lifetime and academic daily life.”
Hwang: “It’s truly much easier than I assumed it would be. It’s just that our substantial college was super super grindy, a great deal of function. Definitely, conceptually matters have gotten more difficult, the workload is just lighter.”
Luque: “Adapting to a new amount of instruction that assumes that you’ve experienced prior expertise is really hard. Some Harvard lessons like LS50 are designed to teach you things from the start. I really like courses like that here—classes that presume no prior know-how.”
How was the overall university changeover?
Cardozo: “I was concerned about coming listed here as an global college student, but I fulfilled seriously excellent pals from the intercontinental community and my roommates have been a terrific assist for me. They are all from America. They have all welcomed me and I sense like I acquired exposed to genuinely superior people.”
Hwang: “Not that tough. My transition was fairly enjoyable and smooth. I’ve normally considered myself way additional American than Korean. Culturally, there was not a substantial hole. I did not truly feel like I was coming to a distinct culture. I am an rigorous extrovert.”
Luque: “It wasn’t too bad. Sustaining get hold of with household again house aided a whole lot. Also, superior relationships with your roommates, as well as golf equipment. Candela and ADDT [student dance troupes] have played a major aspect in generating my changeover easy.”
Reina Pimentel ’25 ([email protected]) and Lauren Kim ’25 ([email protected]) produce for the Impartial.