Stories of IU South BendCelebrating the diversity that drives our campus

Ahmed Atta Elfadil

Posted on by storiesofiusb

I am from Sudan, from the capitol city, Khartoum. I came to South Bend after winning the visa lottery. After some  years here, I can become a citizen. Right now, I have one or two years left before I am a citizen. We came from my country because, first, the education is stronger in America. Second, because my dad is disabled. Someone told us that in America they have better doctors. So, we just applied for the lottery and we won. I have been in the United States for almost two years now. We first landed in Chicago, and then came to South Bend. We were supposed to go to LA, because my uncle is there. But, my dad’s friend said, “don’t go there because it is really expensive and its a very busy place. Come to South Bend, it is quiet and is not expensive and we know some people here. There isn’t a big Sudanese community here, maybe 20 families and I know them all.
My first memory in the US actually really sad for me. I am not sure if he was racist or just having a bad day, but I remember asking a man at the Chicago airport, after I had just arrived here, where is the bathroom. He yelled and said, “I don’t know. It’s not my job to tell you.” And I left. Welcome to the US. My first six months here was the worst in my life. I was 17 years old. But now it is getting better – I have my friends and work and I know how to speak English better.

What’s your favorite book? Malcolm X

What’s your favorite food? I love fresh tuna and seafood.

If you could have dinner with anyone, dead or alive, who would it be? Malcolm X

What are your long-term goals? My plan is to stay here in the US and finish college. I’d like to work in the government. I’d like to also get a Master’s degree and a PhD in IT. I want to do something big. Maybe work for NASA. I know that some people from my country work for NASA. I’d like to be like them. I also want to be a swimmer. I have three medals now from school, but I’d like to swim professionally.

Interviewed by Caroline Bilsky

Celynn Chan

Posted on by storiesofiusb

I came to America from Malaysia. I came to the US because my sister was here. I was torn about where to go for school because I did a UK program and at first I wanted to go to the UK, but then I thought “why not try America?” because I have sisters here. I have two, both of them are married but one of them has a kid here so it was also good to come and be a babysitter here. In Malaysia, and most Asian countries, I have a very typical Chinese family—you’ve got to be a doctor, lawyer, engineer, so when I was first coming here it was one big decision. Honestly speaking, I applied here just to test it out—if I get in I get in, if not I’ll just go somewhere else. But they were the first to reply back, and I was like I guess it’s a sign so lets just go for it. There were also some culture shocks as well. I have sisters who went through it first so they gave me warnings and advice on what to expect. We always hear about the American dream, and I think one day I would really like to go and see NYC. South Bend was a really surprising experience, because cities you think skyscrapers and South Bend is not exactly like that.  I actually don’t mind staying here in South Bend, but if I got the opportunity to work in another state I would. I just want to let life take me where it will.

Advice to Future International Students: I was giving a tour to some younger students, about 16 or so. They’re all international students and trying to find colleges to attend. They asked me how to choose a good college. I said that you will have to go through culture shock, unless you grew up here and were exposed to it. As long as you have a strong community of international students you are able to find your own family here beyond the family you are blood related to. I would say try not to stay just in your own circle, but expand it. People who have walked different paths as you sometimes share the same interests as you. There is this line between you’re an international student or you’re a local. But I think the line is starting to disappear. I would want to say you should just stay yourself and people in the community will accept you when you accept how your past brought you to where you are now.

What is your Major? Biological Sciences

What’s your favorite book? Into the Magic Shop by James Doty. I am a really big K-pop fan, in particular BTS and one of the members recommended it.

What’s your favorite TV Show? I like watching House because it’s from the medical field and the characters are really interesting. I also used to binge watch Korean dramas. One of my favorites was Goblin.

Interviewed by Elana Moss, Anthropology Major

Khalilou Konate

Posted on by storiesofiusb

I was born in Ivory Coast and grew up both there and Burkina Faso. We moved from Ivory Coast to Burkina Faso because there was civil war over there from 2007 or something like that. It started in 2001, and ended around 2009 or 2010. Once we got to Burkina Faso, it was discovered that there was probability that there was oil in the ground. The terrorists just showed up there right away, which started to mess up our life there, too. My dad decided to apply for the visa lottery to come to the United States, and he got it. I was at university and it was towards the end of the month and I called home and said, “Dad, I think it is time that I come home and get my pocket money” and he said okay. When I got there, he showed me a paper. I took it and just saw things in English and thought – but what does this have to do with my spending money? I was a broke student! I read the paper and it said something about “your application has been accepted” and lottery and visa and something like that. And I said, so, are we moving? At first I was expecting that my parents would go and let me stay behind and watch the house, but no, they dragged me, too. I have 3 siblings, one lives in China, but everyone else came here. My dad had a good business there and my mom worked in government, but here she stays home and my dad drives big CDL trucks around the country.
We’ve been in the United States for three years now.  My parents wanted to come to America because of the opportunities for jobs and education for their kids, and for safety. We have terrorists messing up my home country. I was excited to come here because I had seen the country through many Hollywood movies, and I had friends who had come here to study. Coming to America is seen as a life success in my country. I don’t know if you’re aware of it, but America is still a dream country for many, many people in the world.
My first memory of arriving in the United States was in New York. We stopped there on our way to Detroit, where I lived for six months. New York was just beautiful, but it also made me feel bad. Like, if we had to rank people, out of the 380 million Americans, I was on the bottom. I knew how hard I will have to work to get to get closer to the top. I have to hurry to learn something to catch up with everyone.

What’s your favorite book? Garfield Comics

What’s your favorite food? Ice cream

If you could have dinner with anyone, dead or alive, who would it be? Someone rich and generous.

What’s the craziest thing about Americans? How easily someone can take a gun and shoot someone. That’s crazy to me. Also, macaroni and cheese. The first time I had this, it was tasteless to me, but people love it here! But now I do my own version of that, I don’t do just cheese and mac. I add chicken and broccoli, and now it is better.

What are your long-term goals? I’d like to be rich, haha. I am studying for my Master’s degree in Computer Science here at IU South Bend –  my goal is to someday build strong AI systems for cars, to make them talk and think like human beings. I would also like to buy a waterfront house on the St. Joseph River after graduating.

Interviewed by Caroline Bilsky

Skip to toolbar