Sun Quanjun is one of many international students at CSUSM who help to make our campus unique and full of culture. He travelled here from China in September to study, and has already begun to make America his home.

Originally from a large city called Guangzhou in South China, Quanjun is studying business management, and is also learning about a whole new culture and society. Not only are there major language barriers, but there are also cultural differences that leave a big gap between him and his peers.

Quanjun went through a year-long process before coming to America that not only included applying for the study transfer, but also consisted of passing certain exams in English to prove he could academically succeed here.

Lucky for Quanjun, learning the English language is required in China, so he does not have too much difficulty communicating with the people around him.

“The language doesn’t matter too much; it is not too hard,” said Quanjun. “We learn to read and write English, but speaking it is hard sometimes.”

One big difference that Quanjun has noticed between the United States and his home is the price of products.

“Everything in China is much cheaper. I think it’s four times more expensive here. You can use one dollar to buy two to three bottles of cola in China,” said Quanjun.

Beyond increased expenses, he finds that the biggest obstacle he faces on a daily basis is the culture barrier.

“I don’t know about any of the literature they talk about in my classes. I only know ‘Harry Potter.’ Things I have experienced are different than their experiences,” said Quanjun.

Social media is also new to him.

“It is forbidden in China–Instagram, YouTube, Facebook, Snapchat. We have a national social media in China that I use to speak to my family from here. But as soon as I arrived in America I set up my Facebook, Snapchat and Instagram,” said Quanjun, who can’t imagine living without it now.

Making friends has been easy for Quanjun, but he said he has not been able to get involved with campus activities to fully experience college with his fellow Cougars.

“It has only been one month, but it is still overwhelming. I have not joined any clubs because I do not have the time. Yesterday I did two pages of homework for history and have to ask for a tutor for help on weekends,” said Quanjun.

Despite his short time here, he has already decided that he would like to stay long term and pursue a career here, but is unsure of what that would be. He plans to travel while he is here, but doesn’t plan to visit home until next year. For now, Quanjun said that he just wants to get settled here.