Immigrants, Traditional Cultures and Greek Life

[Rudey]

If they want it bad enough, they should be able to communicate it to their parents.

-Rudey

[Tom Earp]

Basically the reasons that there are more Non Americans coming to America to go to school is:

1. The Education is better.

2. Education is cheaper.

3. Some cannot get into schools from their own Country for many reasons.

4. They can afford it because of Out Sourcing.

5. The Familys dont want their Children to become indoctrinated into the American ways.

I have to once again agree with Erik, I was from Mo. and now live in Ks. I paid my own way to college, I had no choice. I was the first one in My Total Family not only to go to College, Graduate, and Be a Member of a Greek Organization.

They Live Here, then learn the ways of This Country or go back to where it is more persecuted for certain Religions and Genders!

Well, I guess that is a Moot point. Go to any Gas Station, Convience Store, or Motel and see how good the American language is?

I think most if not All GLOs are more amiable to working with people at Their Level than most. (Hopefuly)!

[_Opi_]

Originally posted by Tom Earp
Basically the reasons that there are more Non Americans coming to America to go to school is:

1. The Education is better.

2. Education is cheaper.

3. Some cannot get into schools from their own Country for many reasons.

4. They can afford it because of Out Sourcing.

5. The Familys dont want their Children to become indoctrinated into the American ways.

I have to once again agree with Erik, I was from Mo. and now live in Ks. I paid my own way to college, I had no choice. I was the first one in My Total Family not only to go to College, Graduate, and Be a Member of a Greek Organization.

They Live Here, then learn the ways of This Country or go back to where it is more persecuted for certain Religions and Genders!

Well, I guess that is a Moot point. Go to any Gas Station, Convience Store, or Motel and see how good the American language is?

I think most if not All GLOs are more amiable to working with people at Their Level than most. (Hopefuly)!

How about none of the above. There is good education in other countries other than America..maybe if you travelled outside of Kansas, you'd see that.

[rocketgirl]

Originally posted by _Opi_
How about none of the above. There is good education in other countries other than America..maybe if you travelled outside of Kansas, you'd see that.

AMEN!

Obviously, there is Greek life outside of the US, but it is not as important to the collegiate in most countries. For example, there is an engineering school in India, IIT that by far outshine anything we have here including MIT. Those students compete hard to get in and once they do, it's all about the business. A lot of the college students here may have come from families where the parents went to these schools. They believe college is about getting an education, not joining social groups, especially with us "unserious" American students.

Think about the fact that women are considered second class citizens in many countries and are not allowed to go to universities. The parents move here to give their daughters a chance to succeed. Or the fact that in general in society...including the oh so great American society...women are also much more under the parent's lock and key than the men in the families. That double standard means that while the sons may be allowed to date and party, the daughters are supposed to stay pure and innocent. I know this is hard, but you have to look outside of your personal experience and realize that you cannot compare the experiences of midwestern men to foreign women.

And about learning our ways...what are our ways? I'm sure my beliefs that I grew up with are much different than many other people on this board. Not better or worse, just different. We are not a country of one culture, one religion or one belief..so what way are they supposed to adapt to? Learn from everyone around you and don't expect them to be like you. Then we ALL can be a little more enlightened.

[Tom Earp]

I am not disputing that! But.

I have been out side of Kansas You Twits.

I lived In Missouri Also.

I have been a few places in This My Country from Coast to Coast and Border to Boarder.

Oh, I have been to a few Countrys Not Of The USA!

Mexico, Austria, England, Wales, Scotland, Germany, Italy, and Hungary.

rocketgirl, and what Greek Life are You refering to? What Country are You Form?

So There are Many Great Schools In Other Countrys no denying that, but, just how damn many can get into them?

So, what do they do? They come to the USA! It is Cheaper, Right?

I just wonder, is there still a Caste System in some Countrys?

Who said MIT is The Best?

It is one of the fine Schools across The US, not the only one!!

[Rudey]

Actually,

The IIT programs (by the way engineering schools are a small segment of the high ed system) are at several campuses so it's not just one school. I believe only 2 of them are even held highly. On top of that, they are run like businesses and not schools and often target sending their graduates to companies outside the US (increasing the brain drain in a developing country). They emphasize a type of linear thinking that Asian and Indian schools are known for - a thinking that is very limited and is slowly starting to change in countries like China. Those schools definitely do not outshine the US schools - particularly MIT and CalTech.

I'm sure Indians and those who spent their entire youth studying for the one exam to get them into those schools would love to argue their IIT diploma means more. Some alums are successful but that doesn't compare to grads of US schools - the same grads that recruit them. Some alums are just too burnt out to care.

-Rudey

Originally posted by rocketgirl
AMEN!

Obviously, there is Greek life outside of the US, but it is not as important to the collegiate in most countries. For example, there is an engineering school in India, IIT that by far outshine anything we have here including MIT. Those students compete hard to get in and once they do, it's all about the business. A lot of the college students here may have come from families where the parents went to these schools. They believe college is about getting an education, not joining social groups, especially with us "unserious" American students.

Think about the fact that women are considered second class citizens in many countries and are not allowed to go to universities. The parents move here to give their daughters a chance to succeed. Or the fact that in general in society...including the oh so great American society...women are also much more under the parent's lock and key than the men in the families. That double standard means that while the sons may be allowed to date and party, the daughters are supposed to stay pure and innocent. I know this is hard, but you have to look outside of your personal experience and realize that you cannot compare the experiences of midwestern men to foreign women.

And about learning our ways...what are our ways? I'm sure my beliefs that I grew up with are much different than many other people on this board. Not better or worse, just different. We are not a country of one culture, one religion or one belief..so what way are they supposed to adapt to? Learn from everyone around you and don't expect them to be like you. Then we ALL can be a little more enlightened.

[Tom Earp]

Rudey, Q? Where did The IIT Schools come from? And Why?

Oh, Good Post!

[Rudey]

Originally posted by Tom Earp
Rudey, Q? Where did The IIT Schools come from? And Why?

Oh, Good Post!

I think each school has its own history of creation. In general, they were created by western countries and India. It is still supported by the Indian government and gets aid from the West.

-Rudey

[GtownGirl98]

Hi-jack!

"I'm going to go step on a squirrel just because you said that, then make a hat out of it." - kddani


As a squirrel lover I object to this quote!

end hi-jack


I think that sororities are open to other cultures and we want anyone to join. The problem is convencing parents that we are not all drug/drink/sex pots. Yes there are some chapters and some sisters that lead lives that not all of us would agree to... that is why we have more than one glo out there. The question is... how do we meet the needs of other cultures without giving over to the culture? I would just hope that parents would be open to meeting with sisters in the sorority and listening to what they had to say about their activities in the chapter. How they don't drink when they go to a party? Or how they don't dance... if dancing were against the beliefs of the culture (my grandparents would have had issues with my mother joining a sorority because they are strict Southern Baptist who don't believe in dancing, drinking alcohol, and playing cards/gambling.)

That brings up another point... cultural issues are in America also. We have ladies that are from cultural backgrounds of all types. I will admit that I had a picture of the young lady being from an Eastern cultural, but she could just as well be a 7th generation Mayflower American, where the family is Morman, Baptist, Jewish, or any other cultural/reglious group that hold to strict rules/pathways.

My questions would be these... if I joined a group and was not of the same cultural background (race/religous) how would a group accommodate me? Those who have joined groups that aren't the perfect cultural fit, how have you managed to handle the differences?

ETA: Please ignore spelling... coffee hasn't hit yet and spelling is a challenge with it....

[_Opi_]

Originally posted by Tom Earp
I am not disputing that! But.

I have been out side of Kansas You Twits.

I lived In Missouri Also.

I have been a few places in This My Country from Coast to Coast and Border to Boarder.

Oh, I have been to a few Countrys Not Of The USA!

Mexico, Austria, England, Wales, Scotland, Germany, Italy, and Hungary.

rocketgirl, and what Greek Life are You refering to? What Country are You Form?

So There are Many Great Schools In Other Countrys no denying that, but, just how damn many can get into them?

So, what do they do? They come to the USA! It is Cheaper, Right?

I just wonder, is there still a Caste System in some Countrys?

Who said MIT is The Best?

It is one of the fine Schools across The US, not the only one!!

Congratulations on you travelling, Tom. Really!

[adpiucf]

Some members are just a lost cause. I think the best thing you can do is prepare materials in advance-- a tri-fold brochure on the org (which may come from your IHQ or EO offices), set up form letters from the big sister, president and new member coordinator that are sent home, share sample calendars with the parents, hold family weekends and encourage the members to call home regularly, send mom and dad "XYZ parent" shirts and make them feel included. UCLA and USC ADPi (SoCal) have Parents' and Moms' Clubs, too, that plan events and send out newsletters.

At the end of the day, family and school come first. And some families who really don't want their child involved and control their daugters are going to interfere, pull their child out the activity or make waves. Focus on the members who want to/can be there. With families unaccustomed to Greek Life, take it with baby steps. There are far more chapter operational issues to oversee... Help your members understand what it means to be an XYZ-- part of that is good communication and honesty with your family.

[MysticCat]

Originally posted by Tom Earp
Basically the reasons that there are more Non Americans coming to America to go to school is:

1. The Education is better.

Sorry, but the irony is just to good let slide.

5. The Familys dont want their Children to become indoctrinated into the American ways.

Okay, now I'm even more confused than usual. Non-Americans want their kids to go to school in America so that they won't be indoctrinated in "American ways"?

[Taualumna]

Originally posted by MysticCat81
Sorry, but the irony is just to good let slide.

Okay, now I'm even more confused than usual. Non-Americans want their kids to go to school in America so that they won't be indoctrinated in "American ways"? [/B]

Yep, that's true. They like the advantages North America offers them, yet they don't want their kids to become "too American/Canadian/British/etc".....think the movie "My Big Fat Greek Wedding" or "Bend it like Beckham"

[rocketgirl]

Originally posted by adpiucf

At the end of the day, family and school come first. And some families who really don't want their child involved and control their daugters are going to interfere, pull their child out the activity or make waves.

I totally agree.