Current Release: September 11th, 2007 | Vol. XXIV Iss. 10

Photo by Eric Zitz

Wesleyan welcomes foreign students

By Kristin Smith and Katie Morris

At Wesleyan, there are many programs centered around the field of international studies, and the college is no stranger to foreign exchange students. This semester, there are three new exchange students. Max Wuttke and Clemens Reichelt are both from Berlin, Germany, and Adrian O'Connell is from Ireland.

In addition to hailing from Berlin, Reichelt and Wuttke are both American studies majors.

Reichelt chose the field because he likes the English language. He wanted to use it, but he didn't want to go through all of the theoretical aspects of the language that English majors have to go through, such as learning the history of the language, how it developed, and the grammar. He also chose the field because of his interested in cultures, and said that he felt America was a very culturally diverse place. A view which O'Connell shares.

"It's really a word of its own," he said.

"The States have the most diverse culture because so many different people live here," Reichelt said, "It's like, well if you come over here, it's like, 'Yeah, I'm German. And I'm Irish. And I'm Italian.' So it's interesting."

O'Connell also found the cultural diversity that most Americans have in their heritage and background very interesting. One thing that interested O'Connell the most is that, "A lot of Americans have an Irish heritage, so you do the math!"

Reichelt plans to go into diplomatic service when he finishes college, which he said can be a difficult field to enter in Germany, although he doesn't know what exactly he'll be doing in the field.

"It could be basically anything because you apply for diplomatic service and they can basically send me wherever," said Reichelt.

Wuttke chose American studies because of his interest in American history and the influence of American culture on Europe. Both Wuttke and Reichelt feel America has had a heavy influence on European culture, but Wuttke feels that America is in turn influenced by Europe whereas Reichelt feels that it's mainly the other way around.

Wuttke plans to use his major for his interest in the field of media, such as journalism, public relations and advertising.

In Ireland, O'Connell is a psychology major, but here at Wesleyan he is studying business for the year as part of the program he is participating in.

"I'm here [at Virginia Wesleyan] as part of a scholarship program called the Business Education Initiative," said O'Connell. "I told them what I wanted from a college and they found that VWC would be the best for me."

O'Connell said that regardless of what his plans are later on in life, studying business is a good idea because it's used in everything. After receiving his bachelor's degree from his home school, he plans on attending graduate school as it's necessary in Ireland to find reasonable employment and secure a productive future.

"I tend to stay away from Hollywood blockbusters; they're enjoyable, but a bit monotonous at the same time," said O'Connell. "Monty Python films are hilarious. ‘Walking life’, ‘Trainspotting,’ ‘Pi,’ ‘Donnie Darko,’ a lot of world cinema pieces as well as ‘Amelie,’ ‘City of God’ and ‘The Edukators.’"

Wuttke feels that most German cinema is more like the independent films, and said that most Europeans probably just know most of the Hollywood blockbusters.

Though Wuttke and Reichelt feel that America is having a heavy influence from Europe, O'Connell said that it was hard to compare the two cultures.

"Everything's just different to be honest," said O'Connell, "Every country has its stereotypes but there are only a few people I've met here that actually fill those stereotypes. There are such diverse types of people on the campus that it's easy to find people that you can relate to. America is seen as a much more commercial place [than Ireland]."

"Everyone has stereotypes. We have them, too. Europeans have them, Americans have them. At least here I'm meeting educated people," said Wuttke.