First Day in American University Through The Russian Eye

The bell of the local chapel beats a little melody which means that my first day of studying at Ohio Northern University is going to be finished soon. For the whole day, I was trying to merge with the crowd of American students and it was almost okay except for some things that I've found different from what I was used to. There is a list of top five features of the US Schools that made me surprised. 

1. Americans do not have the common Day of Knowledge.

All students in Russia start studying on the 1st of September, when school kids are happily going to school with a bouquet for their teachers and university students are weaving lazily to classes. American schools just begin studying at a random day which maybe even in August. As I'm trying to get used to studying in the summertime (which is crazy) drinking the 3rd cup of coffee my friend from Minnesota relishes her holidays.

2. Americans change classmates every semester.

In Russia, all 1st-grade students are divided into several groups who are supposed to attend the same classes for the whole period of studying. Students in the US have own plan of studying, every semester they choose different classes from their majors or minors. It is cool that you may choose what fits your interests most and find new friends every semester. However, you need to be more careful and responsible for choosing the classes. It also takes more time to find some close friends as you spend so little time with your changing classmates. 

3. Individualism is everywhere.

American individualism is especially noticeable when you come in class and see the desks. I am not sure, we may call it a desk because it is some sort of a furniture system where a chair is connected to a table. The chair is fixed so you cannot change the position of it or just swing on. But the idea is not in the furniture system but in a fact that you sit alone. At my domestic university in Moscow, we usually sit with one, two or more other students at the same long desk. That's why I won't sit with my friends and whisper some jokes or comments during the lecture.  

4. School etiquette.

First thing, Americans do not stand up when a professor comes into a class. I was on my way to raise when my history teacher came but no one was going to do the same so I just sat back down and pretended I was doing warm-up exercises a little. Second thing, students in the US do not applause after a lecture. I am used to this tradition in Russia and I find it especially cute when the lecture is inspiring and I am thankful for it. So, I feel sorry for professors here as they do not get this little compliment.

5. Noiseless flooring.

Some people may say that Russian people like carpets as we used to put them on the walls, but no, the true carpet fans are Americans. There is no room except for the restroom, without a carpet in the University. I think it's quite a cool thing as you can walk silently, not be afraid to slip over and just to fall your phone.  

The things that I've chosen to describe are not bad or good, they are just different from the things in my everyday life at Moscow State University. Anyway, some common things exist everywhere. There are some students that usually complete all the homework, but some of them like hanging out more than studying so they do not do it at all. Some of them are very shy and unsociable, but some are super energetic, some lectures are boring but some of them are just amazing, etc. So still we are all different but we are also all the same.