"Lubbock is not a typical good first-impression city that I think of, but I find it more and more attractive as I live here longer. It is a city with a warm heart and open arms. It is vibrant and blooming with opportunities, yet at the same time, a very tight community. Be confident, be real, and be nice to people and you will find so many friends.

One thing that you might want to consider is to get a driver's license because this city is designed for driving. If you can't get a license, that is ok because you can carpool with people and that makes you friends with each other really fast!

There are a lot of good restaurants in Lubbock and going out with friends is a great way to build relationships. Bring a pair of rain boots and you will thank me in spring. Bring your favorite hometown snacks, they will bring you familiarity in a foreign country and give you a little taste of home. Lastly, be ready to be challenged! Don't worry, because there are a lot of people who care about you here and we've all got your back! You are going to be just fine 😉"

~ Yufei (China) 

Foreign land, new scenery, unfamiliar people and crazy skies. Lubbock has it all. As new students, you will have the opportunity to experience the Texas Tech culture and everything Lubbock has to offer.

To make the most out of your college experience, make sure you keep up with on campus activities, join clubs and organizations, get social and attend events. Get ready to use Snapchat. Surround yourself with people who encourage you, care about you, and don't forget to call your loved ones.

When someone invites you out, say yes! Be curious. Ask questions. Learn a sport, take a walk or simply treat yourself to some chocolate because why not?! Don't hesitate to get involved and grab those opportunities. And most importantly— be yourself!

~Prrishti ✨🇲🇺

Welcome to Texas Tech! We're very happy to have you here. When I first decided to attend Texas Tech university, most of my friends told me” There are not many things to do in Lubbock”. You might have already heard this. In a way, they were being honest, because Lubbock is a small city compared to Dallas, Houston, New York etc; But what they didn't know is Lubbock has a welcoming community that is happy to take everyone in and become part of the red raider family.

Being away from home is not always as cool as they make it to be on TV shows. Maybe this is your first time leaving your family and coming to another country, or maybe you've been doing this. Whatever it is, please know that you are not alone in this journey. Life has its ups and downs. There will be moments when you feel alone, helpless, or just simply want to talk to someone, please don't hesitate to reach out. You never know how many people are feeling the same way until you reach out and share your experience. After all, we humans are a social species, tribal by nature. As Global guides, we are here to help you create wonderful memories at Texas Tech and flourish as an individual.

Moving to a foreign country for college is not always as easy as it sounds, especially if you have to leave your family behind in your home country. I was really excited coming down to Texas Tech, however, I started becoming nervous when it dawned on me that I would be alone in a foreign country with a different educational system—it was then I realized I had not prepared myself mentally for this new journey of life. 

You can already tell, from the previous paragraph, that my biggest advice is for you to not just prepare physically, but also prepare mentally. Your mental capacity is based on your mindset, which is key to how you approach and overcome challenges that may come your way. This is something I had to learn myself, even though I wish I had known it prior to coming to Tech.  

So please when you get down to Texas Tech, do not limit your mind and stay confined to just going to classes; rather take advantage of the numerous opportunities on campus, especially getting involved in student organizations and other leadership roles. By doing this, you'll feel more accepted and easily adapt to the new culture. 

Always Remember: You being a foreign student does not make you any less human!!!

Engage as much as you can with the TTU and local Lubbock community, which includes attending various cultural events (when it is safe to do so), celebrations, workshops, and most importantly, talking to people, sharing your culture, and being interested in their culture. When I came to Texas Tech two years ago, I found it hard to get used to cultural differences (foreign way of living/studying/customs/food), overcome a language barrier, and dealing with homesickness. While there is no easy solution to resolve these difficulties, having support from your Lubbock friends and

community will definitely help to ease things out. That's why I recommend allocating some time during your first few weeks to build these connections.

Before the semester starts and you have a lot of things to do, take some time to discover Lubbock! My top favorite places are the National Ranching Heritage and the Windmill Museum.Finally, check Facebook Marketplace and Facebook garage sales groups before buying some household items. This helped me to save a lot of money during my first month in Lubbock.

There are not many things as daunting as moving to another country to study. The good news is many have done it successfully so you can too.

The number one thing that unhinges international students is culture shock; so find small ways to feel at home. Be it music, shows, food, whatever form of art, find little ways to indulge your home culture. Another huge issue is loneliness. Moving away from friends and family, leaving your whole support system behind is hard. You don't have to leave them behind. Make out time to call, catch up with friends and family that are far away. Do not sit in your dorm room and spend time only with yourself, do not limit yourself to people from your home country. Go out, especially during welcome week, get a feel of almost every organization you can find, and say yes to people when they ask you to go for events.

Many organizations are looking to help you settle into life in the United States. You pay a lot of money for services so you might as well use them; go workout at the rec center, go read at the library, attend sports games. The journey you're about to embark on is exhilarating, be cautious. Watch how you eat, watch how you spend money, and be sure to attend your classes. I hope you have a sublime year, and remember we're here if you need anything.

Coming to Tech can be a bit overwhelming, especially as an international student! You'll be surrounded by tons of students while walking to class and you'll meet so many new faces every day!

It can be quite intimidating and easy to get lost in the crowd and loose a sense of belonging. But this is a great way to learn more about yourself! You need to keep on reminding yourself that the students around you are either going or have been through the same thing. Just like you, they too have felt lost at some point while attending Tech and that they too climbed out of that hole shaping them into the person they are today!

Say yes to all the opportunities that interest you! It could be joining one of the many clubs and organizations that are on campus. Search for on campus jobs and student assistantships that grab your attention. Go out, experience and learn new things! This is a period to explore, and Tech has all the resources to do so, you just have to ask and look for them! Tech hosts a lot of events throughout the year, these events are a great way to meet new people and learn about the Tech culture. If you ever do feel lost, attend the football games in the fall and the basketball games in the spring. These events truly do provide you with a sense of belonging! During those few hours you are sharing the same highs and lows with each and every Tech student whether you know them or not!

So, keep that chin up and don't get bogged down if things don't go your way because these next few years are going to be one hell of a roller coaster!