One’s world view at age 6 is typically limited, but University College freshman Bri Hair was afforded a more significant scope.

Hair’s parents worked as missionaries, and when she was 6 years old, her family packed up its things and went to China. Hair spent most of her life in Shenyang and Beijing.

“It was thoroughly exciting. I traveled all over Asia, got to experience so many rich cultures while maintaining my American heritage by coming back to the states every summer,” she said.

Despite the contrast of OU’s campus to the busy streets of Beijing, Hair finds some similarities, but misses the busy life of China.

“I think the biggest thing that I miss are the little old women saying ‘Are you cold today?’ as you walk down the street. There was such community,” Hair said. “You would just walk down the street and people would start a conversation with you. I miss the thrilling night markets, warm chestnuts on freezing winter evenings and talking to the old men playing Mahjong on the sidewalks. There were always swarms of people everywhere. Walking down the streets here it just seems so empty.”

She said she enjoyed all the people, but the language barrier was sometimes a challenge for her.

“It is incredibly diverse. Growing up in Beijing, you see people from Europe, Africa, America, even sometimes Latin America. At least here at OU they all speak English,” Hair said.

Hair also attended a Chinese school while abroad. She said it was an odd experience because she was the only white girl who spoke English at the school of 800.

Hair said that despite her knowledge of the English language, she failed English at her school.

“There was a Chinese woman teaching English. She had gone to Oxford,” Hair said. “But she taught British English — the grammar was different.”

Even though Hair struggled with her English classes, she did manage to learn Mandarin Chinese while in China. At OU she is working on a minor in Chinese, and is trying to become fluent.

“I wanted to choose something that incorporated both my love of language and my desire to study in many different areas,” Hair said.

She said her time in China helped her learn how to make friends quickly.

“When you don’t know how long you will be staying, friendships are extremely valuable and necessary,” Hair said. “I don’t even think about the fact that some of my friends are from different cultures, but I do tend to make friends more easily with people who have lived all over, or maybe came from a military family. We all think alike.”

Preston Kunz, architecture sophomore, lived most of his life in Argentina. He speaks Spanish fluently and is familiar with many other romance languages. Kunz also has found it easy to build friendships because many of his friends are international students.

“You start to find that you have a lot in common with a wider range of people,” Kunz said. “I definitely tend to move towards the international students everywhere I go. You look for people that have been through what you have been through and that understand how you feel about situations.”

Even though he has many friends in the U.S., his different cultural background sometimes shows.

“There are things that I do that I get made fun of for,” Kunz said. “Flipping words around in a sentence and then there is the occasional hand motion that might mean something in one country but means the worst possible thing in another.”

Kunz’ parents also were missionaries. While Hair’s parents have moved back to Norman, Kunz’ parents and younger siblings are still in South America.

“I miss it so much. If anyone is wondering what to get me for Christmas, how about a plane ticket,” Kunz said.

Kunz misses simple things about where he grew up, like the casual pace of the everyday life.

“Everything is so close to each other, you can ride your bike across the city and no one thinks you’re weird,” he said. “I miss the food, the drinks, the music and of course all of the hundreds and hundreds of friends I had to leave behind.”

While both Hair and Kunz are enjoying life at OU, they carry even fonder memories of their homes in other countries.

“It was the best experience anyone could ask for. It has made me what I am today and has given me the most amazing stories to tell,” Kunz said.