Yi-Ying Lin
Home Country: I am from Taiwan.
Native Language: Chinese Mandarin is technically my native laguage.
Other languages or dialects known: I also know English as a language and Taiwanese as a dialect.
Major: I am currently majoring in accounting.
Living Arrangements: I live in a residence Hall.
Is this your first time in America?: No, it isn't.
How long have you been in America?: I have been here for two years.
What made you choose to come to Purdue?: My goal is to become fluent in English and have better education.
What was your home life like?: The major differences are that we have many more people, stores, buses, and subways, also we take exams to get in middle school, high school, and college rather than just taking an exam to get into college.
What was the hardest part of leaving home?: I really miss my family and familiar foods. The weather here is very different, and I need a car here or I can't go anywhere.
What has been the biggest shock to you in this transition to college in America?: Not a lot has shocked me since I've been in here for two years already. I've gotten used to the differences.
How do you think the experience of going to college is affected by attending university in a new country?: People who go to college in other countries become more independent and more mature than others who go to the college in their home country.
Give us your definition of empathy?: It is the understanding of someone's feeling because you have experienced the same thing before.
What is you view of empathy?: I think it's really good if someone has the same feeling of something as you do.
What programs helped you with the transition to college and America?: I think BGRi is really helpful.
What would you like to share about your background?: I would like to share my culture and language with others.
What do you wish Americans understood about your perception of things?: I wish they could understand that when I'm quiet, it doesn't mean I'm cold and don't want to talk, I'm just nervous and shy.
When you were making your decision to come to America, where did you see yourself after graduation?: I think that I will probably try to get a MBA here, and then I'll go back to my home country.
How often will you get to go home?: I will go home only once per year.
Has meeting people with a similar culture and background helped with the transaction? Has it helped with being away from home?: Of course it has! Since I have made new friends, won't miss my friends and family from Taiwan that much.
Is it easier to make friends with people of your own culture than it is to make friends with Americans?: It is way easier to make friends who come from my own country.
Do you think you will stay in America after graduation?: I believe that I will get my master degree and go back home.
What were you views of America and Americans before you came here? How has it changed?: I thought most girls would be really outgoing and friendly, but I know now that some teenager girls are actually not.
Yi-Ying Lin hails from Taiwan, where she wishes to return after finishing her degrees. She is a first year accounting major who has plans on pursuing an MBA. Recently, Yi-Ying sat down with us and discussed here experiences here in America and at Purdue University.