After coming to the United States in 2008 from Cape Town, South Africa, Senior Psychology Major Neo Mpunga was introduced to Gustavus by his host mother. His host mother’s grandfather was O.J. Johnson, a former Gustavus president in 1913. Immediately when Mpunga came for a tour he noticed the sense of community.

“Gustavus is a great size. Not a big college. Not a small college.” Mpunga said.

During his time here in the United States and at Gustavus, Mpunga has noticed several cultural differences. For example, certain topics went unaddressed in his hometown.

“There are things back home we never talked about. Here the gay and lesbian community is celebrated and discussed. Back there we don’t talk about it. It’s a different perspective,” Mpunga said.

Perhaps the greatest difference he has noticed is what Mpunga describes as “warm and cold culture”.

“In America, it’s a cold culture. I come from a warm culture. Here, if I stop to say hello it’s brief. Just hey, how are you, and we keep going on with our day. But back home we stop and chat,” Mpunga said.

The definition of family also changes between cultures.

“I come from a huge family,  uncles and uncles, cousins and cousins. I know them all, and they all know me. It’s so warm. Everyone knows what I’m doing. Here many people come from small families. It’s a different kind of support.” Mpunga said.

All of these difficulties Mpunga faced while studying at Gustavus are in the midst of a language barrier. Speaking and writing in English was difficult to get the hang of, especially since English is Mpunga’s fifth language.

“I had to go to the English Center a lot,” Mpunga said.

But the language obstacle was not all bad.

“Because I struggled with writing here, I got closer to my professors. They’re all so friendly and dedicated.”

Mpunga has often found it easeir  to connect to other international students. He feels international students are drawn together by their common denominator to create their own warm culture on campus.

“It takes a lot to be an international student. Think about the day your parents dropped you off. They probably shed a tear. Now imagine my mom helping me pack my last backpack. It’s a heavier goodbye,” Mpunga said.

Although Mpunga says it is difficult to be the only student from South Africa on campus, he cherishes the friendships he has made here.

“I’ve made a lot of friends, many of them international students. I know I will have brothers and sisters wherever I go,” Neo said.

Mpunga strongly believes in the power of community.

“Get out of your comfort zone. Try knew things. You never know what the next person you meet will have to offer.”

With a psychology major and african studies minor, Mpunga plans to graduate and return to South Africa to earn a masters at the University of Cape Town. There he anticipates studying clinical psychology. When asked about his plans after University, Neo smiled.

“I’ll tell you what my grandfather told me. He said that I should make my plans in pencil, and leave the eraser to God.”

-Molly Butler