International students arrived to campus on August 25th, two days before their peers. Students from abroad make up almost ten percent of Bowdoin's student body. The orientation programming, which was planned by Mishal Kazmi ’21, provides oppurtunities to get aquainted with Bowdoin's campus and nearby areas.
Soon after arriving to campus, students departed on a field trip to southern Maine, where they lunched by a lighthouse in Cape Elizabeth and explored the food markets in downtown Portland. Victorine Thibaudin ’23, from Lyon, France, said getting the chance to see the majestic views from the lighthouse was "magical."
Events back on campus included meetings with Associate Dean of Upperclass Students Khoa Khuong, Q&A panels with upperclass students, informational sessions about campus services, and an outing to Gelato Fiasco.
Current international students also led a tour of downtown Brunswick, pointing out some of their favorite restaurants, cafes, and stores.
When asked why they had selected Bowdoin, several of the students answered in similar ways: it was a small, tightknit community, it was close to nature, it offered stimulating academics.
Tianyi Xu ’23, from Shenzhen, China, said he chose Bowdoin "because it is a small liberal arts school with a beautiful scenery." So far, the best part of his decision to attend has been the not-so-tedious task of reserving fifteen minutes for a five-minute walk across campus. This is to ensure he has enough time to catch up with all the friends he meets along the way. "I get caught up in conversations around campus," he explained.
Xu added that he's looking forward to growing at college "by fully embracing values of diversity and acceptance," and also trying out new activities for him, like photography and other art classes. "Bowdoin presents multiple facets of academic life, areas that I didn't know even existed!" he said.
Thibaudin said she chose Bowdoin for its proximity to nature, as well as for its supportive and welcoming environment. Additionally, "the college also offers me a wide range of class choices compared to France," she said. She's looking forward to studying "everything related to the Middle East, including Arabic, history, and diplomacy." And she wants to take classes in cinema and piano—and play rugby.
Kirstin Yip ’23, who is from Singapore, opted to study at Bowdoin to live in a small town for a while. And she was drawn to another aspect of Bowdoin: its focus on community service, which speaks to a generosity of spirit in the people here. "There is a sense of community here that forms easily. People are open, friendly, and vulnerable," she said. She hopes to join the McKeen Center and Masque & Gown, and have conversations with peers about politics, race, and international relations.
And lastly, she's looking forward to trying a few "strange American foods."
