Pledging by Non-Citizens

[Ronaldo9]

I pledged my house as a just-naturalized American citizen and was the only person in my 12-person pledge class who was not natural born (and the only one as far as anyone could remember). Has anyone else experienced this and was there a gap in cultural context and familiarity between you and your pledge brothers (or sisters) due to your lack of "baseline" knowledge of the Greek system?

My experience is now a decade out of date so I imagine things have changed considerably but I'd be curious about the experiences of others.

[FSUZeta]

That is an interesting question. I hope someone can weigh in with their perspective.

[Cheerio]

Sorry, can't respond, on ignore (which I'd forgotten about, thanks Benzgirl).

[Kevin]

We had a Japanese national in our pledge class--or very near. He was only active about a year, but we still keep in touch. Awesome guy. When I was serving as adviser, we had a Rwandan pledge. It didn't work out. I saw a Saudi going through rush once, but I don't know how that turned out. And we did have a very active member from Indonesia. In all cases, it was pretty awesome to exchange cultures.

[Benzgirl]

We had a foreign national in our chapter. English born but her father worked for Marathon Oil and lived in several places around the world based on where he was assigned at that time. While living in the Middle East, she attended Western schools.

After graduation, she remained in the United States and eventually became a citizen. I can't say there was much culteral difference other than she was much more worldly that the rest of us. My neighbors at home were Egyption and I had an introduction to Middle Eastern food, so I could always count on Cassie to help me seek out foods of different nationalities off-campus.

I'm still in contact with her through Facebook and sometimes see her at fund raisers. She is a self employed consultant, never married and lives a similar life as I.

[Ronaldo9]

Originally Posted by Benzgirl

We had a foreign national in our chapter. English born but her father worked for Marathon Oil and lived in several places around the world based on where he was assigned at that time. While living in the Middle East, she attended Western schools.

After graduation, she remained in the United States and eventually became a citizen. I can't say there was much culteral difference other than she was much more worldly that the rest of us. My neighbors at home were Egyption and I had an introduction to Middle Eastern food, so I could always count on Cassie to help me seek out foods of different nationalities off-campus.

I'm still in contact with her through Facebook and sometimes see her at fund raisers. She is a self employed consultant, never married and lives a similar life as I.

Great story! Thanks for sharing!

[Benzgirl]

Originally Posted by Ronaldo9

Great story! Thanks for sharing!

In an earlier post, you mentioned attending University of Washington. Tell us of your experience at the school.

[Ronaldo9]

Originally Posted by Benzgirl

In an earlier post, you mentioned attending University of Washington. Tell us of your experience at the school.

Sure! What would you like to know?

[Benzgirl]

Originally Posted by Ronaldo9

Sure! What would you like to know?

• Why did you decide on UW?
• Years you attended and the Campus culture
• Did you stay all 4 years?
• How did the education environment differ from that of your homeland?
• How you adjusted to the relatively liberal Northwestern United States with your ultra-conservative views
• Were you more or less combative in your homeland?
• What was your major and why did you choose it?
• Where did you move after leaving or graduating?
• I'm very curious how you became so confrontational. Is it genetic, environmental or by program. You know, the basics.

?

[naraht]

One of the chapters of Alpha Phi Omega that I worked with occasionally as an alumnus had a pledge who was *from* greece.

Did his best to pronounce letters the way that the American Fraternity system does, didn't succeed all the time. He indicated as a brother that he'd figured out "certain things" prior to initiation but didn't say anything prior, so that didn't affect his pledge class. Got the feeling he was bemused by some things involved.

[carnation]

I was on the advisory board of my son's Sig Ep chapter and the chairman was this wonderful English alum of the chapter.

One of our former exchange students (Hong Kong) wants to pledge when she comes to college in the US next fall. I'll do everything I can to help her get a bid--she would be a fantastic member.

[Benzgirl]

Originally Posted by carnation

One of our former exchange students (Hong Kong) wants to pledge when she comes to college in the US next fall. I'll do everything I can to help her get a bid--she would be a fantastic member.

Another Carnation Nation!

[honeychile]

Originally Posted by carnation

I was on the advisory board of my son's Sig Ep chapter and the chairman was this wonderful English alum of the chapter.

One of our former exchange students (Hong Kong) wants to pledge when she comes to college in the US next fall. I'll do everything I can to help her get a bid--she would be a fantastic member.

Woot!!

[flirt5721]

We had a DACA student in the chapter. She had been in the country for a while so there was no real issue with the culture.

The chapter also had a British exchange student once. I believe the culture exchange was great. The chapter was able to learn about the English culture and she was able to learn about New Mexico/US culture.

[Iota_JWH]

When I was in college (many decades ago), our chapter had two sister's who became naturalized citizens, I believe it was while the younger one was still a pledge. (The older sister was three years older. The family had immigrated from Latin America when the sisters were young.) I know that in the last decade, undergrad foreign students have become quite normal, so my collegiate chapter has had several non-US members.