While most OU students are only a quick road trip away from
their family and friends, others remain oceans away from their
homes. For OU’s international community, staying in touch
with family and friends can be more confusing because of different
time zones and more expensive because of long-distance calling
fees.

Many international students resort to calling cards, instant
messaging programs and e-mail for a cheaper form of long distance
communication.

Keeping in digital touch

Churin Kim, a South Korean student studying public
administration, has lived here four months and will return home in
April or May.

She said she keeps in touch with her family and friends using
MSN Messenger and e-mail more than phone calls.

“I have free internet, so even using a phone card is more
expensive,” Kim said.

Kim said, even though her mom and little sister miss her, she
probably talks to her friends more often than her family.

 

Taking calls from the family

Leonardo Alves, zoology sophomore from Brazil, has been at OU
for four semesters.

“I miss the weather and the surfing there more than my
family and friends. Food is also a big thing I miss,” Alves
said.

Alves said he talks to his family on the phone about once each
week. However, he does not usually use a calling card like many
international students.

“I call them, and then they call me back because it is
cheaper for them to call me,” Alves said.

He said he has gotten used to being away from home.

“Now it is a part of reality, and you cannot fight that,
you just have to accept it,” Alves said.

 

Collecting collect calls

Sung Ho Noh, a South Korean student studying to be a sports
agent, has lived here six months.

“It feels like a short time because I need more time to
practice English and experience American culture,” Noh
said.

So far, Noh said he has not found being away from home too
difficult to handle.

“It is not hard because I send e-mails, and we can call
each other,” Noh said.

He said he often uses a calling card or calls his family
collect.

“With collect calls, sometimes they didn’t want to
get the call,” Noh said.

However, when he does speak with his family, Noh makes sure to
portray all of the positive aspects of his life here in
America.

“I don’t want to talk to my family about my bad
experiences because I don’t want them to worry about
me,” Noh said.

To keep in touch with his friends, Noh uses MSN Messenger. He
said this allows him to maintain friendships back home while he
also makes a lot of friends here.

Noh said that everyone in America has been kind to him and
always offers to help him with his apartment, food and
transportation.

“I am a lucky guy,” Noh said. “I enjoy meeting
[Americans], talking to them and hanging out with them.”

 

Calling with cards

Sofia Marcos, a student from Spain, has been here 2 1/2 years
and has only returned home for summer and winter vacations.

“I’m having a good time here, but I miss my
family,” Marcos said. “I live with three roommates, but
it’s not the same.”

Marcos said she looks forward to returning home for the
summer.

“I’m not counting down the days, but I do want to go
to my country because I miss the food and I miss the
weather,” Marcos said.

To keep in touch with her family, Marcos uses a calling card and
sometimes calls collect. She said it becomes very expensive.

Dora Mrochem, a Polish student, said she dials a special number
that does not charge long distance fees, so she may talk as long as
she wants.

Mrochem said it is nice to talk to her family because she gets
lonely, as she has been here by herself for six weeks.

Jee Hye Kim, a South Korean student, has been in America for
almost one year. She recently decided to apply to a graduate school
here as well.

“My family calls three times a week now because they worry
about me because graduate school is really hard,” Kim
said.

She said she tried tried to teach her parents how to use e-mail
before she left for America.

“The phone is easier,” Kim said. “It is
cheaper if they call me, or I will use an American phone card
because they are cheaper than Korean ones.”

 

Seeing through a webcam

Ali Schakroun, a Lebanese student, has been here five
months.

Schakroun said he will probably visit his home every summer. He
said he communicates with his family via computer, text messenging
or the occasional call. “I got a webcam and gave one to them,
too, so that we can see each other and talk,” Schakroun
said.

Schakroun comes from a large family spread all over the
world.

“We are used to traveling and being away from each other,
so it’s okay with my family,” Schakroun said.

Schakroun, like many of the other international students, said
that he maintains friendships back home by talking to them
regularly through instant messenging programs and chat rooms.
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