[originaltext]M: So, you must have a lot of contact with overseas students in y

M: So, you must have a lot of contact with overseas students in your work helping people coping with daily existence?
W: Sometimes. You know the life of a social worker is not all wonderful and working to help people in their daily life. I have to spend a lot of time pushing paper, and writing reports too. But when I do get out, yeah, I see a lot of foreigners. And sometimes they come in because life in America has just beaten them down and they can’ t cope financially or emotionally.
M: Really? I would think that they had a good support network in place, especially university students.
W: They do have a network, and a variety of support groups, but these can’ t meet all of the students’ needs. They can’t help with paying bills, dealing with American neighbors and customs, fitting in, getting a driver’ s license, etc. They try. But very often the student has to figure a lot of this stuff out by himself. And if he or she is shy, they don’ t have the courage to ask other people, even other people from their nationality.
M: So what are some of the things that overseas students struggle with?
W: This might interest you, but they struggle with the food, especially Chinese. You know, they come here knowing that Americans love Chinese food so much. They think that there will be good restaurants with Chinese food that they love. But they get here and they are extremely surprised. Americans enjoy totally different flavors.
M: So what do they do?
W: If they’ re brave and curious, they look around and test all the restaurants. There is usually at least one restaurant in every town that has almost quality food.