Thais Guimarães

Brazil

Exchange student – one year

Campus: What is your first impression of Allegheny?

Guimarães: “The people are very receptive and friendly, really, really friendly.”

Campus: What are you most looking forward to?

Guimarães: “Meeting other cultures and improving my area of study.”

Keigo Mochihara

Japan

Exchange student – one year

Campus: What are the three most important items from home you brought with you?

Mochihara: “Letter from my friends, running shoes, money.”

Campus: What are you looking forward to most about Allegheny?

Mochihara: “Playing sports, especially soccer.”

Xiahyun Xie (Olivia)

China

Degree seeking – mathematics and economics

Campus: Why did you come to Allegheny?

Xie: “Because my English teacher graduated from this school and told me it was a really good school, she never regret coming here. I did some research and it was right.”

Campus: What are you looking forward to most about Allegheny?

Xie: “Meet new friends and…to find new me.”

Erblin Shehu

Albania

Degree seeking student – political science

Campus: Why did you come to Allegheny?

Shehu: “It was my first choice of college and I’ve heard it has the biggest number of Peace Corps volunteers around the world…one of them told me about Allegheny and the Bonner Scholars program, I am part of that too. It gives you the chance to study more than one major. I like the small community and how the professors know the students individually.”

Anne-Sophie Fernandez

France

Exchange student – one semester

Campus: What is your first impression of Allegheny?

Fernandez: “It’s very nice. It’s like in the movies, very stereotypical.”

Campus: What are the three most important items from home you brought with you?

Fernandez: “Computer, shoes, clothes.”

Campus: What are you most looking forward to?

Fernandez: “To travel and see new cities, new cultures, the American dream”

Sofia Abid &  Sara Khadim

Morocco

Exchange students – one semester

Campus: What is your first impression of America?

Abid: “All the things I’ve heard about America are true. People eat a lot, most are very friendly, strangers in Wal-Mart say hi. People are dressed very casually/sporty. At home you have to be very put together, you can’t go outside with socks and sandals. I was [also] very surprised people knew where Morocco is”

Campus: What are the three most important items from home you brought with you?

Khadim: “[Sofia] brought the Moroccan flag, I brought spices and we both brought a special glass. It’s called a Ghorat and [is] made of clay.”

Tahmoor Akram

Pakistan

Degree seeking student – undecided major

Campus: What is your favorite thing about Allegheny so far?

Akram: “The gym. Because in Pakistan all the gyms are tiny… I want to go to the gym a lot.”

Campus: Have you lived in snow before?

Akram: “I’ve seen snow in England and wasn’t a fan. I’ve heard the snow here is way nicer…we don’t get snow at home.”