Reflection/Study Abroad Articles - Journal of International Students

Journal of International Students

Reflection/Study AbroadArticles

ISSN: 2162-3104 Print/ ISSN: 2166-3750 Online Volume 3, Issue 1 (2013 Spring)

Copyright © 2013-2014 JIS http://jistudents.org/

61 ISSN: 2162-3104 Print/ ISSN: 2166-3750 Online Copyright © by JIS http://jistudents.org/


Spring 2013 Vol. 3 Issue 1

This tongue-in-cheek comparison between theunplanned visit and invasion by Mongolian-Tatariantribes signifies at least two aspects of Moldovanhospitality. First, the treatment of guests in one’s homefollows a cultural norm that prescribes not only theattitude toward visitors, but also the protocol of a host’sbehavior. Moldovan rules of hospitality provide hostswith guidelines for proper comportment during a visit.Second, the adage suggests that guests can expect theirhost to adhere to a traditional standard of hospitableconduct. This helps to eliminate the uncertainty guestsmight experience in someone else’s home and alertsthem to the efforts their host exerts on their behalf. Inthe United States, hospitality is also highly valued.However, norms for a host’s conduct are likely to rangewidely given the many cultures that shape Americansociety. Whereas in Moldovan society sedulous care ispaid to staying with, entertaining, and feeding eachguest, such constant involvement with a guest in theUnited States is likely to be perceived as oppressive. Inthe latter context, it is most desirable to provide for thepersonal well-being of guests, while simultaneouslyrespecting their freedom and individual choice.

The choices left to guests in the United Statesmay include when to come and go during the day andevening, and if not what to eat, then when and howmuch to eat. The guest will typically select their ownactivities and may be expected to enlist their owntransportation. Although this laissez faire attitudetoward hospitality is largely a sign of respect for theindividuality and freedom of choice accorded guests(Etiquette in North America, 2012), it is at leastpartially also a manifestation of an American host’sindividualism. The North American orientation topersonal autonomy, self-sufficiency, and self-determination is not sacrificed for the sake of a guest,especially a stranger to whom we owe little more thangood intentions (Wang & Liu, 2010). On the otherhand, in Moldovan society dutiful adherence to theculturally defined rules of hospitality reflects upon the

class and breeding of one’s entire family (Bejan, 2010).The Moldovan guest begins his or her stay

with a visit to a room (and sometimes a whole house)that represents the family’s heritage and traditions. Thisk^s^ m^re (pronounced “casa mare” which literallytranslates as “big room”) contains the family’sheirlooms and treasures depicting a sort of familymuseum. In this room are carpets with nationalornaments, traditional clothing and pottery. No onelives in this room (or house), but special events in thefamily are held there. It is certain that the Moldovanhost will quickly supply a bottle of good wine and thebest food available. Food plays an integral role isMoldovan hospitality with a table full of different kindsof foods and wines in what amounts to a cult of food.A guest who rejects an offer to eat or drink iscommitting a grievous act of disrespect to a host.Guests are treated as hosts would wish to be treated. Ifa guest stays overnight, they are offered the bestcouches in the house. If there is not enough space toaccommodate everyone, the host sleeps on the floorand the guest takes the host’s bed. These are traditionalexpressions of the generosity that is characteristic ofhosts in Moldovan society.

During a recent trip across the United Stateswith three other international student friends, the firstauthor was able to experience first-hand a range ofpractices that defined the hospitality of a cross-sectionof hosts. Anastasiia relied on a websitewww.couchsurfing.com to register and schedule visitsto homes across the country. These travelers based theirexpectations on the traditions with which they werefamiliar in Moldova and Afghanistan (one student grewup experiencing the hospitality customs of this middle-eastern society: Customs not unrelated to those ofMoldova). The trip occurred during the break betweenthe fall and spring semesters in December, 2011. Thefirst stop from Alabama was in Dallas, Texas, wherethe students stayed in the studio of a localphotographer. As Anastasiia describes her experiences,

The Culture of Hospitality in Moldova and the United StatesAnastasiia Dobrovolska and Rolf Holtz

Department of Psychology and CounselingTroy University (USA)

The uninvited guest wreaks the havoc of marauding Tatars

62Journal of International Students

“He met us with a very friendly manner and invited usinto his studio. Right away I realized I would besleeping on the couch near the photographer’sequipment. I guess he makes his photo shots on thiscouch. That studio was cold and huge; I was shakingfrom the cold all the time. Our host cooked for usmango and scrambled eggs for breakfast. The mostinteresting thing about this visit was that we wereexpected to eat sitting on the floor. Also, he had aseparate place for his dog around our “table.” Hetreated his dog very well. He read him fairytales everyevening and took him almost every place he went. Thefact that our host was from Cambodia, and practicesBuddhism, may account for much that occurred.Overall, it was a nice experience getting to know ourhost.”

The next stop was in Albuquerque, NewMexico. Anastasiia and her friends stayed with amedical student with whom they discussed commoninterests related to many public health issues. Afteronly a few hours, the host left the travelers with the keyto his apartment and went to study. Anastasiia wasshocked: “This situation is unlikely ever to occur inMoldova. It does not mean that we do not trust ourguests; but the guest may feel uncomfortable beingresponsible for another person’s home. I could not evenopen my sister’s refrigerator staying in her apartmentby myself.” Nevertheless, the travelers cooked dinnerbefore the host returned. When the host finally arrived,he washed their dishes despite their polite objections,explaining that they were his guests. The visitors beganto feel quite comfortable in that environment. The nextday, the host purchased a bottle of wine for his guestsand cooked a Thai dinner. Everyone was sad to leaveAlbuquerque.

After New Mexico, Anastasiia and her friendsvisited the Las Vegas home of a woman who was bornin the United States, but tries to follow the traditions ofher Serbian heritage. She was initially quite friendly,but then did not pay any attention to her guests. Thetravelers found this highly unusual and feltuncomfortable. Later they discovered that their hostwas devoted to the practice of yoga. From what sheknew about yoga, Anastasiia decided that the womansimply intended to give them complete freedom in herhome by not structuring their activities or holding themto any specific rule of social protocol. In the evening,their host provided each person with a sleeping bag andsuggested that they sleep on the floor in the livingroom. In the morning, the international students were

introduced to other friends of their host who had stayedthe night in sleeping bags on the kitchen floor. Thetravelers concluded that sleeping bags were typicalbedding in that house. Anastasiia summed up theexperience with her Las Vegas host: “We all the timewere trying to adapt to the situation without our hostadapting to us.”

From Las Vegas, the road led to San Franciscowhere the students found their “Americangrandfather.” He was a senior citizen. They lovedspending evenings in his cozy living room listening tothe stories he told about his large family. He brewedtheir morning coffee, and waited every evening to havedinner together. In Anastasiia’s words, “It was nice toknow that somebody is waiting for you at home. It wasalmost the same as in Moldova. The only exceptionwas that our host went to bed at 9:00 p.m. and we werestill awake until midnight. But we were pretty happyabout this.”

Next, it was on to Los Angeles to stay with ayoung couple who expressed much interest in thenational customs and languages of their internationalguests. After spending part of the visit discussing thebackground and cultures of the students, these hostsbecame busy with their own activities. It was here thatAnastasiia and her friends spent the New Yearholidays. From there, traveling south to San Diego ledto the home of a young man whose house was the siteof endless parties. Anastasiia reports that theirexperiences in San Diego were unexpected after therestful visits enjoyed in San Franciso and Los Angeles:“After spending a day exploring San Diego, we werepressed to participate in all of the parties, despite ourwish to go to bed. Evidently the doors of his apartmenthad never been closed because of the constant flow ofnew guests. We tried to find a spare space in hisapartment, but eventually settled on the floor. By thattime, we were no longer shocked to sleep on the floor.”

In El Paso, Texas, the travelers stayed for onenight in the home of a middle-aged man from aGerman background. Everything was prepared for theirarrival and a separate room had been set aside for eachguest with an extra blanket and towels placed in eachof the rooms. Everything was in order. The lastdestination was San Antonio. The visitors wereboarded in a recreational vehicle parked behind thehouse of their host. As Anastasiia describes thisexperience, “We had never been in an RV before. In themorning, the ground around the vehicle was full ofsleeping deer. Our hosts were continually feedingthem. Even the deer liked our hosts.”

63 ISSN-2162-3104



Anastasiia and her international student friends arrivedback to Troy University after visitign many cities in theUnited States: places in which they found themselvesin unfamiliar situations during visits with hosts frommany different backgrounds and lifestyles. They allagreed that the people they visited were unanimouslyhospitable and kind to their guests. Nevertheless,unlike the customary doting on guests to which theywere accustomed in their homelands, their U.S. hostsmaintained respect for their freedom and self-determination; and they did not let their guests wreakthe havoc of “marauding Tatars” in the name ofhospitality. Moldovans are extremely hospitable andthey love to entertain. Indeed, www.couchsurfing.comhas dozens of registered persons and families inMoldova who are eager to host international strangers.But Anastasiia and her fellow travelers discovered thathospitality can take many different forms. They hadopened for themselves the door to hospitable Americain all of its diversity.

ReferencesBejan P. (2010). About hospitality and tolerance in

south-eastern Europe. Journal for the Study of Religions and Ideologies, 9, 36-46.

Etiquette in North America (2012), Wikipedia Foundation, Inc. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ Etiquette_in_North_America

Wang, G, & Liu, Z-B (2010). What collective? Collectivism and relationalism from a Chinese perspective. Chinese Journal of Communication, 3, 42–63.

_________________About the Authors:Anastasiia Dobrovolska is a senior medical student atTransnistrian State University, Moldova. Anastasiiawon a full scholarship in the field of Psychologythrough the Global Undergraduate Exchange Programin Eurasia and Central Asia 2011-2012, sponsored byThe US Department of State's Bureau of Educationaland Cultural Affairs to study at Troy University,Alabama. Her interests are working with youth,psychology, medicine, studying foreign languages, and

participation in international student conferences andfestivals. She plans to work as a pediatrician aftergraduation from medical school. E-mail:[email protected] .Rolf Holtz is an associate professor at Troy university.He received his PhD in social psychology from theUniversity of Southern California. Currently, hisresearch focuses on links between collectivism, andsocial and academic motivations. He has alsoconducted work in Aceh, Indonesia, on the impact ofcivil war and cultural orientation on authoritarianism.His email is [email protected]

How to Cite:Dobrovolska, A., & Holtz, R. (2013). The culture of

hospitality in Moldova and the United States. Journal of International Students, 3(1), 61-63.

Arkansas State UniversitySpring 2013

Volume 3 | Issue 1

Print ISSN: 2162-3104 Online ISSN: 2166-3750 Scan the bar for more informationhttp://jistudents.org/


v ISSN-2162-3104



JIS Board: Editors & Reviewers

Founder/Editor-In-Chief

Krishna Bista, Arkansas State University, USA

Guest Editors Erlenawati Sawir, Central Queensland University,Australia [Spring 2013 Vol. 3 Issue 1]Susan C. Pearce, East Carolina University,USA [Spring 2013 Vol. 3 Issue 1]

Associate EditorsCharlotte Foster Missouri Western State U., USADiana B. Carlin, Saint Louis University, USAHugo Garcia, Claremont Graduate University, USAJune A. Gordon, University of California, USAKeri Dutkiewicz, Davenport University, USASandria Officer, University of Toronto, CanadaRai Farrelly, University of Utah, USAVera V. Chapman, The U. of Mississippi, USA

Book Review EditorsCharles R. Harris, Stony Brook University, USAJoy Bancroft, University of Kansas, USA Kerri Bennett, Arkansas State University, USAMisato Yamaguchi, Augusta State University, USANicole Gervasio, Columbia University, USAShyam Sharma, Stony Brook University, USA

Copy EditorsElise Geither, Cleveland State University, USA Glenda A. Riley, Indiana Institute of Technology, USAKaren Young, Clayton State University, USAMiguel Lopez, California State University, USAPaul M.W. Hackett, Emerson College, USA Rolf Holtz, Troy University, USAVirginia Gonzalez, University of Cincinnati, USA

Advisory BoardAmany Saleh, Professor of Curriculum & Instruction,Arkansas State UniversityDon Jones, Assistant Vice-President of Adm. & StudentServices, Belhaven UniversityGeorge Foldesy, Professor of Education & Director,Center for Excellence in Education Russ Hannah, Associate Vice-Chancellor for Finance,Arkansas State University

Publication CoordinatorsJoyce Mann, Arkansas State University, USAPamela Shultz, Arkansas State University, USA

Reviewers

The following people reviewed manuscripts submitted forpublication in Journal of International Students fromDecember 2011 through December 2012. Their assistanceis greatly appreciated.

Abu Kamara, Dalhousie University, CanadaAlex Kumi-Yeboah, Dalton State College, USAAlexander N. Akulli, Michigan State University, USAAllenda Zionch, University of Nevada, Los Vegas, USAArnaud Prevot, Argosy University, USABrandy Stone, Arkansas State University, USABurcu Ates, Sam Houston State University, USACahty Maahs-Fladung, Utah State University, USACharles W. Prince, George Washington University, USACheryl DoBose, Arkansas State University, USACrystal Machado, Indiana U. of Pennsylvania, USA Danilo M. Baylen, University of West Georgia, USADavid Pang, The University of Auckland, New ZealandElena Yakunina, University of Buffalo, USAFelicia Castro-Villarreal, The U. of Texas at San AntonioFujuan Tan, University of Wyoming, USA Gina J. Mariano, Troy University, USAGuan Kun Saw, Michigan State University, USAHaijun Kang, Kansas State University, USAJason Hoi Y. Chan, University of Wyoming, USAJeff Koloze, South University, USAJennifer Hoyte, Florida International University, USAJeton McClinton, Jackson State University, USAKris Aric Knisely, Emory University, USALauren M. Griffith, Central Michigan University, USALeah Gustilo, De La Salle University, PhilippinesLeia K. Cain, University of South Carolina, USALeigh Pritchard, Brock University, CanadaLing Gao LeBeau, Indiana U. at Bloomington, USALisa Kahle-Piasecki, Tiffin University, USAMartha Vungkhanching, California State U., Fresno, USAMelissa S. Mincic, innovation Research & Training, Inc, USANaJuana Lee, University of Georgia, USA Nilay Yildirim, Syracuse University, USANoparat Tananuraksaku, South-Eas Asia U., ThailandOlena Zhadko, New York Institute of Technology, USA N. Aida Rustamovna, Kazan National Research Tech U. RussiaReza Pishghadam, Ferdowsi U. of Mashhad, IranRoy Y. Chan, Boston College, USARui Cheng, Nazareth College, USASheena Terrell, Arkansas State University, USAShelda Debowski, U. of Western Australia, AustraliaStephen Tippett, Arcadia University, USASusan Edgar-Smith, Eastern University, USAWilliam Lange, Arkansas State University, USAZheng Zhu, Washington State University, USA

Contact AddressJournal of International StudentsPO BOX 1270 State University

AR, 72467 (USA) Phone: 870-680-4124E-mail: [email protected]

Printed at Arkansas State UniversityPrinting Services, USA

Call for Manuscripts


An interdisciplinary, peer reviewed publication, Journal of International Students(Print ISSN 2162-3104 & Online ISSN 2166-3750) is a professional journal thatpublishes narrative, theoretical and empirically-based research articles, studentreflections, and book reviews relevant to international students and their cross-cultural experiences and understanding.

Published bi-annually, the Journal encourages the submission of manuscripts fromaround the world, and from a wide range of academic fields, including comparativeeducation, international education, student affairs, linguistics, psychology, religion,sociology, business, social work, philosophy, and culture studies.The Journalaudience includes international and domestic students, faculty, administrators, andeducators engaged in research and practice in international students in colleges anduniversities.

a)Study Abroad/Reflection- includes descriptions and perceptions from studentsand scholars concerning another culture, language, people and society from aninsider or outsider perspective. Reflections are the building blocks of researchpapers and offer original points of view on the issues and concerns related tosojourns (between 1,000 to 1,500 words).

b)Peer-reviewed Article - includes manuscripts that focus on the interpretation,implication, or significance of research work related to international students andscholars from various disciplines (between 3,500 to 6,500 words).

c)Book Review - includes reviews and critiques of the written work of scholarsfrom a number of disciplines related to international students (between 750 to1,200 words).

Please e-mail your manuscript to the Editor, [email protected]. Include yourfull address with email and telephone number. Follow APA 6th edition in yourcitation and references. Double space. Times New Roman with 12 font size.

This Journal is a non-profit publication and has been operating through thevoluntary services of editors, copy editors, reviewers and guest editors. Allpositions in the Journal are unpaid. No fees are charged to authors or readers. Forfurther information, please visit our website http://jistudents.org/

Editorial Office: Eugene Smith Hall, Rm 411Arkansas State University, AR 72467 (USA)

DisclaimerFacts and opinions published in theJIS express solely the opinions of therespective authors. Authors areresponsible for their citing of sourcesand the accuracy of their referencesand bibliographies. The editorscannot be held responsible for anyoversights or possible violations ofthird parties’ rights.

Copyright © 2013-2014Unless otherwise noted, copyrights for the textswhich comprise all issues of Journal ofInternational Students (JIS) are held by theJournal. The compilation as a whole isCopyright © by JIS, all rights reserved. Itemspublished by JIS may be freely shared amongindividuals, but they may not be republished inany medium without express written consentfrom the author(s) and advance notification ofthe JIS editorial board.

On the Cover: Basking in the Sun. Cover Photo: © Pamela Shultz, 2013

ISSN-2162-3104 Copyright © by JIS http://jistudents.org/



CONTENTSVolume 3 Issue 1 Spring 2013

Guest Editorial

Enriching American Riches with International StudentsSusan C. Pearce, PhD, East Carolina University, North Carolina (USA).........................................................i-iiInternational Students and Internationalisation of Higher EducationErlenawati Sawir, PhD, Central Queensland University (Australia)..............................................................iii-iv

Peer-Reviewed Articles

1. Study Abroad and Cultural Learning through Fulbright and other International Scholarships: A Holistic Student Development. Madalina Akli, PhD, Rice University (USA)...............................................................................................1-9

2. Educating Chinese, Japanese, and Korean International Students: Recommendations to American Professors. Shelly R. Roy, (Doctoral Candidate), Fairmont State University (USA)............................... .................10-16

3. International Students in the U. S.: Social and Psychological Adjustment. Michelle Jackson (Doctoral Student), Sukanya Ray, PhD, and Danica Bybell (Graduate Student), Suffolk University (USA)..........................................................................................................................17-28

4. Preparedness of Chinese Students for American Culture and Communicating in English. Melody S. Rawlings, EdD, Chinese American Cultural Exchange Foundation (USA) and Edna Sue, PhD, Chinese American Association of Cincinnati (USA)................................................... 29-40

5. The Effects of Collectivism-Individualism on the Cooperative Learning of Motor Skill. Yi Luo (PhD Candidate), Yan Sun (PhD Candidate), and Johannes Strobel, PhD, Purdue University (USA)..................................................................................................................41-51

6. International Students’ Likelihood to Seek Counseling while Studying Abroad. Adebayo I. Onabule (EdS) and Susan R. Boes, PhD, University of West Georgia (USA)..............52-59

Reflection/Study Abroad Articles

7. The Culture of Hospitality in Moldova and the United States. Anastasiia Dobrovolska (Undergraduate Student) and Rolf Holtz, PhD, Troy University (USA).. 61-63

8. Vocabulary Acquisition: Practical Suggestions for ESL/International Students. Young-Kyung Min, PhD, University of Washington at Bothell (USA)..............................................64-69

9. German-English Communication: A Cross-Cultural Challenge.Sarah Watzky (Undergraduate Student) St. Cloud State University (USA).....................................70-71

10. “He is an Idiot!” Experiences of International Students in the United States. Jongyeon Ee (Doctoral Candidate), University of California at Los Angeles (USA).....................72-75

Book Reviews11. The International Student’s Guide to UK Education: Unlocking University Life and Culture.

Paul Sudnik, Munich University of Applied Sciences (Germany). ...............................................76-7712. 2012 Doctoral Dissertations on International Students.

Krishna Bista, Arkansas State University (USA).......................................................................... 78-81

Documents

Reflection/Study Abroad Articles - Journal of International Students