A Long Way From Home

Texas A&M International University welcomes students from all around the world. For this school year 2011-2012 school year students from thirteen different countries came for a new experience, and every single one of them has an inside look in our multicultural city.

  Martin Skrodzki is one of several students who came to TAMIU to experience and learn from a new culture. He comes from a town called Gelsenkirchen, Germany where he studied at TU Dortmund University pursuing a Master's Degree in Mathematics. He had to adjust to many things coming to TAMIU, from the time difference to types of food. One thing is for sure he is eager to try anything.

There are many differences between Germany and the United States. Some national holidays such as German Reunification Day and National Mourning Day. German Reunification Day is similar to the joining of the Union and Confederate states, while National Mourning Day is similar to Dia de Los Muerto celebrated within our Mexican culture.

Martin also added"It was hard to leave my friends and family, my martial arts class and church," But out of all the things he misses the most would be his fiancée,"but Skype was a great invention." The thing that gets to him the most though, has to be the seven hour time difference.

When asked why Martin chose TAMIU he replied "I came here to learn Spanish and experience the Mexican and U.S. culture." He is multilingual, he know how to speak German, English, some French, and he is currently learning Spanish. We asked him if he spoke Spanish, he responded "Si yo hablo un poco. Yo aprendo espanol."

When asked about what are some of the cultural differences he has noticed, Martin laughed and said "I really like how everything comes in separate plastic bags." If he went to McDonalds and ordered a yogurt parfait "you not only get the granola in a separate bag, but also the spoon and the napkin. An epic waste of plastic!"

Martin expected a lot of things before coming to the United States, but he emphasized on "A food baby" which refers him to gaining weight, but "also friends, fun, and happiness" in the mixture. 

Martin has also stated he hates liver and about to get his black belt in Japanese martial arts of Aikido. When asked how he liked his experience he replied "I liked it a lot so far, especially quesadilla and horchata."

Martin plans to come back after he is done with his studies; he has met amazing people that changed his views on life. He ended by saying,"Seriously I could imagine coming to the U.S. Again and maybe work here."

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