Interview-Rio Salado Community College, Arizona

Interview - Rio Salado Community College, Arizona

Pei-Fen Ko from Taiwan.Pei-Fen Ko from Taiwan is a senior at Rio Salado Community College near Phoenix, Arizona, where she is majoring in Fashion Merchandising.

Why did you decide to study in the U.S.A.?

My twin sister came to the U.S.A. one year before me. Every time I spoke with her on the phone, I noticed that her English had improved.

How did you choose your college?

Rio Salado offers an online college experience. This flexibility was very important for me. Also, I have enjoyed living in Arizona.

What do you like best?

I do not need to attend a school in person. Saving time commuting to class means I have more time for myself and my friends.

What do you miss most?

I miss my family, and the food in Taiwan.

What was your biggest surprise?

My biggest surprise about the U.S. life is how friendly people are. I noticed that people on the street would say “how are you” even they do not know each other.

...your biggest disappointment?

The high tuition.

How have you handled:
...Language differences?

I had my dictonary with me all the time. When I came to the U.S.A. I was always nervous when I needed to go to grocery store and not able to find the things I was looking for. So, I ususally had to check my dictionary about the particular words of the things I needed before I went to the store. Another good way to learn English was to watch television and repeat what an actor or actress said. Now, I am more comfortable expressing myself in English and chatting with my American friends.

...Finances?

My parents are paying my tuition and expenses. Living with friends has helped me to succeed as a student.

...Adjusting to a different educational system?

I was pretty impressed by the interaction between a teacher and student. American students like to express their opinions and ask questions in the class.

What are your activities?

There are two field trips that made a deep impression: visiting Quicksilver fashion headquarters and a fabric mill. The designer of the company showed us the process of how a garment is made, and the buyer explained to us what it’s like to work in the fashion field. Another field trip was to a fabric mill. I learned how a fabric is made, designed and dyed. I learned so much from those two field trips, which made me strongly feel that working in fashion is what I want to do in my future.

My friends and I like to do rock climbing, hiking, or biking in the summer. There are a lot of beautiful places to do this kind of activies in Arizona such as Camelback Mountain or the red rocks area of Sedona.

How relevant is your U.S. education to your personal goals and to the needs of your country?

My career goal is being a fashion buyer and eventually having my own boutique. Speaking fluent English and having good communication skills are very important in the fashion field because it usually requires a lot of traveling and meeting clients from all over the world.

What is your advice to other students?

Studying in a foreign country is a life-time experience that you will never forget. It is best to prepare as well as you can, and try to gain as much experience with English as possible before you arrive.

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