Ida Leong is in her second semester at EC and she is a journalism major. She is originally from Macau and is an international student.

How long have you been living in the U.S.?

I came to the U.S. in July of 2003 from Macau, which is a special administrative region of China, similar to Hong Kong.

What are you studying to become?

I’m studying public relations because I think it’s interesting and fun. I became interested in journalism after seeing wartime photographers in action. Another reason is that in Macau there are more and more jobs opening up in public relations because of all the casinos being built.

What made you decide to study in the U.S.?

In Macau, there aren’t many good universities to attend, so in order to get a better education, I decided to study abroad. If I were to get a diploma in the U.S., then I would be able to get a better job when I return to Macau. I could have also gone to study in Britain or Singapore, but their school systems are very strict and difficult, similar to Macau’s system.

How difficult is it to be an international student in a foreign country?

I miss my friends and family a lot. Before, if I had a problem I could ask my parents for help, but now I have to solve problems on my own. I have the help of my friends here, but I find that I have to depend more on myself.

How is life in the United States different from Macau?

In the U.S., students get part-time jobs, but in Macau students usually get their money from tutoring as a private teacher rather than retail. It is less tiring and for about two hours of work, you can get enough money to spend for two months.

How are the universities in Macau different from American universities?

The students are more active in the U.S.; for example, students here ask more questions and are free to speak their minds. In Macau, students don’t do that.

It is very strict and the students are afraid to speak their minds. Less pressure is placed on students in the U.S., but the teachers here are more professional than in Macau.

What kind of experiences have you had in the U.S. so far, good or bad?

I’ve learned a lot by living on my own, like having to cooperate with my roommates by getting to know them. We grew to support each other and now we try to help each other out in anyway we can. The only bad thing I can think of is missing my family and being so far from them.

How are women in America treated differently from women in Macau?

To me, I think women are treated the same, but in Macau they consider qualifications more important than gender when considering people for employment.

Do you feel that you have more opportunities in the U.S.?

Yes, because in the U.S. I have more freedom to think of my own ideas and fulfill my parents’ wish for me to receive a better education.