Interview with international student oo
Yuri oo
She/Her/Hers
Ethnicity: Burmese
Occupation: Global Studies Student at University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB)
Location: Isla Vista, California (IV)
"After COVID happens, don’t forget about what happened. Take what you learn and actually put it [to use], because America could do so much better. America as an idea—people around the world have hope in it—and I know Americans, especially the youth, has hopes in it [too]."
July 23, 2020, 6:00 PM PDT
By Lina zeng
Interview Highlights
Zeng: Where do you consider home?
Oo: I feel like a nomad, I can make a home out of anywhere really. I’ve been traveling a lot since I was young too with and without my parents or family. When I am here, I do miss home. When I see pictures of my family, my friends, having fun. But then also when I’m back home, I miss IV so much, because I also found a group of people that I really like.
Zeng: How did you react to the initial ICE announcement that international students could not stay in America if their classes were completely online?
Oo: Actually, when that happened, I was in Long Beach because I was with friends from my home [in Myanmar], didn’t have anywhere to go because my lease ended and there was a gap where I had to find a place to stay. But because I don’t have family here, I stayed with friends.
When ICE announced the news, it was a combined panic and manic. Everyone was like, ‘Okay. What are we doing? What are we doing? We have to get out.’ But then my country’s borders were closed so we didn’t have flights going into the country so I was like, how are we going to leave? But then a friend was like there’s this thing called relief flights that Burma is doing and I’m sure also other countries are doing. I know my friend from UK also went back home on a relief flight but I also know my friends in America are going back home from there. Only Burmese citizens that are stranded in other countries, like although the borders are closed, they can come back home. So we do have that but then the waitlist was so long and we weren’t sure if ICE was going to kick us out, when were they going to kick us out? It was a lot of uncertainty. And we’re just how kids, like how could they do this to us? It was so stupid.
I don’t know why they’re doing it, because a lot of money are coming from international students. International students pay two to three times more than in-state students pay. Even out-of-state students, we pay a lot more than that. So I’m just like, why are you doing this, who is this helping, is this a power play?
Zeng: How can we better support international students during these times and/or in general?
Oo: I say this because I have friends in other states and across the US and UCSB could do so much better. The UC system is one of the 20th largest or richest in the world. And also a lot of the students in UC are international students, other colleges also. So it’s like, why isn’t there better options? We can’t apply for financial aid. We can’t get loans. Other colleges have scholarships for international students to apply. And I feel like we could totally do that for the UC System. Like someone needs to explain why not? They have so much budget too. My roommate is from CAB (Community Affairs Board) and she researched and knows the budget.
Also when I moved in… like international students are allowed to move in earlier than the other students. And then when I was moving in freshman year, there was nobody to help, nobody to call. In the directions it was like go report to OISS (Office of International Students & Scholars) and say you have arrived. That’s what you’re supposed to do. We go there and nobody was there. It was closed. A lot of the things, there should be better communication for international students. because they come from a completely different country, a completely different demographic. I don’t know the roads. Everything is totally new. We land and I feel like we need more support for these kids.
Another thing I noticed was that international students are not as vocal about the things they are struggling… probably because of cultural differences also. I know I’m not as vocal as other Americans. I have to fix it as I come here. But for a lot of people, we need that support. We need more direction, we need more communication.
We also can’t apply for EBT because obviously we are not citizens and also Cal Grant, but the school doesn’t have any food resources for international students. That’s also another thing, because we pay a lot more and we’re not getting the same benefits.
Zeng: Have you experienced any microaggressions due to your APID/A identity?
Oo: It’s not everyone, of course—and it’s usually the way that they were brought up I guess. There’s certain times where like people would be mad if I speak my language. I really think it’s just that growing up, culture inclusivity isn’t taught as much in American curriculums. I’m actually in a club because global awareness—awareness about other countries and current events—isn’t taught as much as when Americans were growing up here. So I think that’s another big thing. I do it because I have this personality but I know that—I have friends that are international students, I have friends from home going to other colleges and they have the same experience where they don’t feel comfortable speaking up in class because of their accents or even their own language in public. For me, once I got asked in a taxi, “Why are you [not speaking English]” and the tone was not “wow that’s cool” but more like ”why are you doing that” kind of thing.
Zeng: You mention culture inclusivity isn't taught as much in American curriculums. How does this differ from the education you received in Myanmar?
Oo: I went to international school. Our history classes were about around us. I was aware about Southeast Asia. I know where [each country is] maybe not exactly but which countries are right beside together. I had that knowledge. My current roommate is from the Philippines and she also told me that in their school they knew where was where. But also because our school was international, we had books that focused on America and Europe. I feel like we had a bigger scope of history and geography.
Zeng: Have you faced any additional microaggressions or hate due to COVID-19?
Oo: No, never me. I think it’s because although I am part Chinese, I don’t look Chinese. So I was at a grocery store and then somebody in front of me was a Chinese guy and then this lady was just like “Back off, back off, back off!” and just yelling in the store. So I experienced that and it just makes me sad.
Zeng: How did you react to school going online? How did you adjust?
Oo: As soon as [the government] was like, “We’re closing everything down.” And I was like, “Okay fine, all my plans for the year... gone. Okay I guess the only thing I have to do is me. I’m free. It’s just me now.” I started working out, meditating, reading, picking up all the things I would never usually do. I did that and now I’m just more relaxed. I’m just like whatever now, because I feel healthier, I’m less strict about a routine. I first started a routine and I was [working hard on it].
I think I handled it pretty well because a lot of my friends had breakdowns. I feel so guilty saying this but it’s just a fact. I actually learned a lot better online. I think it’s because I had all the resources and lectures online. So instead of going to a class and then like me nodding off and not really paying attention because of last night, work, or whatever. I was able to learn when I wanted to learn and when I was ready to learn. And when I needed to go back [to lectures] for exams and stuff, I had time to go back and do that. That’s why all the resources being listed in online (GauchoSpace, UCSB's online portal)—that’s what got my grades so much better.
But I do miss in-person especially sections. Those are crucial. Yes, I got good grades, but it’s not the same as being seriously mentally stimulated with your peers, talking about [the content]. I’m a global studies major, I need to talk to like-minded people and discussions are a thing. I miss that.
I really hope that when coronavirus, everything is over, school’s could really see and analyze what helped. I wish they would still record lectures for kids.
Zeng: Do you have any messages you want to share about the current pandemic?
Oo: There’s so much that went down because of COVID. I feel like COVID exposed so many things wrong with our system, but I feel like people should get madder. We do get mad but then it just dissipates and then nothing gets done. We need to be angry until these people that have constructed the system that is a circle—we can’t get out. My American friends feel stressed about how the system is [messed] up like our healthcare system. I really think that everyone should take notes on taking things seriously. After COVID happens, don’t forget about what happened. Take what you learn and actually put it [to use], because America could do so much better. America as an idea—people around the world have hope in it—and I know Americans, especially the youth, has hopes in it [too]. America could do so much better… for the people. I really am passionate.
Zeng: What would you tell other international students looking to study in America?
Oo: Really think about it. I don’t know. I honestly would now tell people to just go to Europe, because I was going to go to Europe or UK. I have no family anywhere in Europe or across America so I was like, I can literally choose anywhere to go and most of the friends that I have chose America and California so I came here. [I would tell people go to Europe] especially right now. If you go to Europe, tuition is most likely going to be free and you could travel a lot more there. Just being serious, like right now, especially this situation, don’t come. Don’t come to the US right now. If you don’t come, you’re making a statement. I feel like it’s a sacrifice, but we need sacrifices to make America change.
Zeng: Do you have anything else you would like to add? Anything you want to share with the world?
Oo: Let’s work on more solidarity [among] people of color, especially Asians honestly, because I want to see more solidarity and more vocal, more fierce people just getting angry. I want to see that in our Asian community.