<p>To all those who are already there, what are some problems do you faced in the States? For me, I can already forsee a problem, i.e. the usage of Farrenheits, pounds, miles, feets/foots, inches… Yes, the metric system is different from what I’ve grown up with.</p>
<p>So are there any other problems? Like in terms of social life, academic life and such. Please share with me and others heading to US this fall! Thank you!!</p>
<p>I’m not a college student, but I moved to the US from Sweden in middle school.</p>
<p>About the metric system: In terms of academics you don’t have to worry about conversions, at least not in the sciences (where you’re most likely to encounter precise measurements). Outside of class, you’ll soon become an expert in the art of estimating. I’ve lived here for almost five years, and I still don’t know how to convert Fahrenheit to Celsius; I do know, however, that 32F=0C, 50F=10C, 75F=~25C, and 90F=~30C, and based on those benchmarks I can estimate most other temperatures that I encounter in my daily life. I do suggest that you get a chart of the higher temperatures, though, at least if you plan to do any cooking.</p>
<p>Along the same lines, one inch=~2.5 cm, one foot=~30 cm, and one mile=~1.6 km; one pound is just under half a kg (~450 g, I think?). As long as you’re comfortable doing very rough multiplications in your head (and even if you’re not right now, you’ll soon develop the ability), you won’t have any difficulty.</p>
<p>Good luck! :)</p>
<p>Yeah, I would agree, the Anglo-Saxon measurement system is only a minor nuisance and usually fades away in six months.
Many of my international peers report problems in establishing strong friendships with American students. Interpersonal relationships in mainstream American culture seem to be comparatively harder to develop beyond someone’s acquaintance.
On a lighter note, the biggest nuisances I’ve encountered is the incredibly bad beer (although there are some good American brews, but not at your average college party).</p>
<p>I am from Nigeria, and I am currently a senior in the U.S. The metric system didnt really affect me as much as the nomeclature in chemistry. In Nigeria, we use IUPAC nomenclature, however here in America they still use the older names. At the beginning of AP Chemistry, I paid the price, but after a while when names became less important, and calculations (math is truly the universal language) were more vital, I fit right in.
I believe, I am fortunate. Rather than being ostracised like I thought I would, socially, depite my funny accent, I am content. But then again, maybe that is because I already knew how to speak English fluently before coming here.
I dont envisage much of a problem in university, asides from speaking, perhaps maybe public speaking, because my mispronoucation of words (the ever present influence of my mother tongue causes me to wrongly emphasize words) might throw people off.</p>