Creating her own culture
Student Spotlight: Seema Afsheen

-- Patty Gavnik

Seema Afsheen’s passport is from Pakistan, but she says, “I’m not really connected to that culture.” Rich in opinions about culture, but never dogmatic, she explains, “The way I think is really progressive compared to the way people think over there. They [women] are just raised to get married and have children, and I don’t have that kind of mentality.”

Far from being disdainful of Pakistani culture, Afsheen respects all cultures tremendously. Her father worked in Abu Dhabi, the capital of The United Arab Emirates (U.A.E.), and she treasures the cultural lessons she learned while growing up there. Although it is Arab politically, the country is a cultural melting pot. She explains that no one culture dominates, “People there are highly educated, so they don’t expect you to become Arab or American or Pakistani or Indian. Everybody just gets along. I grew up in that kind of environment, and that’s why I don’t belong to any one culture.”

When Afsheen came to the United States six years ago, culture shock wasn’t an issue, although she was surprised that American infrastructure was less developed than that of the U.A.E. With enormous oil revenues, Abu Dhabi has one of the highest per capita incomes in the world. When she arrived in Minnesota, she says, “I was shocked by the roads—there were potholes everywhere. I was shocked by people driving rusty cars, because in the Middle East you can’t do that. They have to be in perfect condition, otherwise they don’t let you drive.” All that didn’t really matter, however; she says, “I was just happy to be here, and going to school was the objective.”

This year, Afsheen has been studying intensively for the GRE; she hopes to pursue a Ph.D. when she graduates next year with an M.S. in technical communications. In the meantime, she is job hunting. “If I get into school, I’m fine. If I don’t get into school and I don’t find a job I’ll have to leave the country in two months,” she explains. Once she graduates from either program, she is allowed to work for one year to gain practical training. After that year expires, she must find a job that sponsors her, or leave the country within two months.

Considering the rigorous educational training she received in the Middle East, the GRE should be a breeze. Arab schools emphasize history and memorization, so Afsheen was shocked when she arrived in the U.S. and found that her first exam was multiple choice. She explains, “Back home you have to write page after page in your exam because they can be as important as content. Multiple choice ends at the third-grade level, so I find education very easy in this country.”

Despite the ease, Afsheen feels that American higher education system better prepares students to use their skills in real-life applications. Although she feels that Arab schools provide excellent medical and engineering training, liberal arts schools don’t encourage research and personal exploration. In the U.S., she says, “It’s more like you digest information and it helps you grow and develop mentally as individuals.”

Afsheen knows firsthand that knowledge comes from personal experience, not just academic information, and cultural education is a prime example. Ironically, she feels that many misconceptions Metropolitan State students have about foreign peers arise from an over-sensitivity to cultural differences caused by education. Textbooks instruct students that they need to communicate in certain ways, being careful not to offend. She says, “That creates a gap between people. They don’t want to reach out to you because they’re scared to offend you. Other times they are worried that you might offend them.”

As comfortable as Afsheen has become in Minnesota, she talks wistfully about her mother’s home cooking and misses the more relaxed Middle Eastern lifestyle. She reflects, “People don’t always have to make an appointment to meet. They’ll be in the neighborhood and they’ll ring your bell. Life is pretty simple. People have more time. Over here it’s all work and the rest of the time is to study. Life is very hectic over here. Over there you can get a nap in the afternoon and that is not something unusual. People love to cook because they have the time to cook two-hour meals, so I miss that very much.”

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