Thursday, 2 July 2009 Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} Itsall because of a scholarship which is why Abdul Aziz Almoajil is in the UnitedStates.“I’m from Saudi Arabia and Idecided to come to the United States because in Saudi Arabia right now they arenow offering scholarships for us to study in the United States. The Saudi Arabian government started thisprogram, King Abdullah scholarship and they are sending students to a lot ofcountries the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Japan, Korea, parts ofEurope I’m not sure which countries they are sending students to and they arepaying everything.” Abdulattends Youngstown State University located in Youngstown, Ohio. He hascompleted his sophomore year and he says that several factors came into play asto why he chose this university over many others. “First, I didn’t know anything aboutYoungstown State University.I waslooking for a university that was not highly competitive like something inbetween….not so hard, not so easy,” he says. “Also, the admission was easy and the student body is not big or small,but like in between and the most important thing was no Saudis in theuniversity so I can learn English. Havingsome skills in computers made it easy for Abdul to decide to major in thatfield.His biggest challenge he says hasbeen the English Language. “Its computer science and I’ve choose my majorbecause anybody can program me, I’ve grown up using computers all day like since I was eight ornine, I was fascinated by them,” he says.“I have some programming experience in highschool. At first I was a little bitanxious everything was new for me, but I’ve learned a lot of things like how tomake contract for the dorms and language was at first an issue for me, but thenit became easy after I learned the language issue.” Thereis no question for Abdul that having good English skills is important. He says that alone is one reason why studyingin the United States is essential to him. “Right now most companies even out of the United States one of theirrequirements for employees is to have good English skills so it’s so importantfor me so I can improve my English and also it has one of the bestuniversities.” Adbulsays he will graduate in 2011. He says he may continue his masters studies herein the states, but he isn't too sure just what he will do. Another, however he has a few ideas inmind. “I think I’ll like when I graduateI have to go back to Saudi Arabia because I am a scholarship student, but Iwill try to apply for an optional training program if they allow me, theAmerican government I will work for a year under the optional training programand if they don’t I will go back go to Saudi Arabia and find a job.” Whenasked what advice he would give other international students about studying inthe United States, Adbul says... “I advise them not to hesitate at all, not tofeel any fear of being over here and being alone, not having any fear of thelanguage, people over here are very friendly, they communicate very well theyare willing to help and I really encourage them to come over here and improvetheir English and if they don’t have any at all to learn English and tograduate from over here.” |
Thursday, 2 July 2009
VOA News
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