Showcase Exeter Diversity: Southeast Asia

Phillips Exeter Academy is one of the most culturally diverse high schools in the country, with students from more than 30 different countries across the globe. Many international students come from Southeast Asia, including Taiwan, Vietnam, Hong Kong and Singapore. Exeter offers a program that allows students to assimilate to American culture, while also maintaining their national heritage.Many students find that adapting to Exeter is not as hard as some would imagine. There is already a diverse, well established international community at Exeter. “There is a very strong international community at Exeter,” Victor Wang, a senior from Hong Kong, said. “I think Exeter's diversity has helped me assimilate [to America].”Natasha Lim, an upper from Singapore agreed, saying, “Being an international student is a significant part of my experience of Exeter, because I am a part of a tight knit international community.” Exeter helps to foster an international community which provides a safe environment for foreign students. Some also say it is fun to be a part of the international student community because Exeter provides a set of students who go through the same experiences.Some have adjusted to the culture so fully that they feel at home here. “I often forget that I’m an international student at Exeter, to be honest,” Philip Chang, an upper from Taiwan, said. “There isn’t much of a divide between students from abroad and students from the U.S., which I think is one of the great qualities of PEA.”Lim shares the same sentiments as Chang, agreeing that although diverse, many of the students, international or not, are very similar. “I love how although we all come from different countries, we share similar mindsets and experiences. It was easy to assimilate into the culture here.”Rajan Varma, an upper from Hong Kong, found that it wasn’t difficult to adapt to American culture at all, as “Hong Kong is already very western.”"The hardest thing to acclimate to was the non-city part,” Varma said. Yet he still feels more connected with his home country. “I feel more nationalism for Hong Kong than for the U.S. I was born and raised in Hong Kong and all of its cultures are mine, so naturally I'd feel that way.”Of course there are still some differences between Southeast Asian cultures and American/Exonian culture. “I only remember that I am an international student when someone uses an idiom that doesn’t quite make sense to me,” Chang said. Lim also finds that she sometimes misses cultural cues. “There are times where I don't understand what everyone is talking about, but I learn to smile, nod and pretend like I understand.”There are also different societal norms in America that take time to adapt to. Pat Sukhum, at upper from Thailand, found American culture more social than in Bangkok. “People are quieter in Thailand whereas here, people are more open to conversations,” Sukhum said. “I would never say hi to a random stranger back home, but here, it is a pretty common occurrence. I guess I'd say people are more sociable here.”Lower Minh Nguyen agreed with this. “The way people socialize and how opinions are expressed was the hardest for me to adapt to when I boarded,” Nguyen said. Lim, when speaking of the social differences between her native country, Singapore, and America, said, “The best thing about America is its people. Everyone in America is so friendly and accepting—even strangers on the street can be bothered to say hi and ask about my day.”D-Hall has made efforts to be accommodating to these students. “D-Hall incorporates some of our food, like pho noodle soup, rice, spring rolls,” Nguyen said. Others say that D-Hall has been a challenge for them—they are accustomed to their native cuisine, which D-Hall has not been able to replicate perfectly. “I've seen one attempt so far, but the food didn't taste like a real Thai dish. It's okay though because Thai food is quite hard to make and the ingredients cannot be found easily here,” senior Pat Sukhum said. “It would be too much of an effort, but I commend them for trying. If I wanted Thai food, I would go to Pad Thai.”Overall, Exeter has done a great job allowing international students to feel at home, miles away from their actual home. Upper Chanand Sophonpanich said, “It doesn't feel any different to be an international student than to be a normal student, just that you have to travel for a longer period.”