A “different world” is what members of the International Students Club said when they first moved to America. One of the various panels at Multicultural Day, called “Bring international students to Moorpark College” was about the experiences that they faced when coming into the United States.

The speakers had an engaging audience of 50, who were interested in learning all about culture from the international students.

“The mentality of people is a little different,” said Yehven Uoituk, also called “J,” who is a student from Ukraine. “Especially in society, everyone is more to themselves.”

There are other different situations that some, like Sandra Iskandar, experienced. Iskandar, an immigrant from Syria, did not learn how to speak English until her third year in America.

“I spoke zero English and it would take time for me to hold a conversation,” said Sandra. “When people laughed at me because of how I spoke, I was wondering why no one was helping me improve my English.”

The students pointed out differences comparing their country to America.

“People are so stressed,” said Iskandar. “They try to fit everything in one day where in Syria, life is much slower-based.”

When walking the streets of Los Angeles, Iskandar was in awe to see that there were people living on the streets.

“It’s nothing like that in Syria, people help each other,” she said.

When asked by one of the attendees what their “pre-conceived notion” was of America, all the speakers had agreed on one answer.

“America is Hollywood,” said the international students club.