Lone Gambian student adjusts to life in states
 By: Casey Northcutt
*Issue date:* 10/4/07 *Section:* College
Life<http://www.thenews.org/news/2007/10/04/CollegeLife/>
Posted: 10/4/07

It's one thing to be a little fish in a big pond. It's something else
entirely to be the only sea bass in the Pacific Ocean.

Ebrima Jarju, graduate student from Banjul, Gambia, knows the feeling-he's
the only student from Gambia enrolled at Murray State.

He traded his country, known as the smiling coast of Africa, for small-town
Kentucky at the encouragement of his best friend, Palamin Sarr, alumnus from
Murray State.

Jarju also needed higher education to fulfill his dream of working for the
United Nations, and his other choice to study abroad, England, seemed too
expensive.

"I wanted (to) supplement my education," he said. "(With) the masters
program, the more you move up … the more marketable you are. When working in
the international arena, you have to make sure you prepare yourself."

He said he arrived on campus in December 2006 and plans to stay until he has
finished his degree in organizational communication.

Although he received a friendly welcome, the past nine months haven't been
free of obstacles and culture shock.

For instance, he said people in Gambia always greet each other before
starting conversation.

It took him a while to adjust to America's more direct method of
communication.

"People just come to you without greeting you," Jarju said. "…I just find it
difficult to talk to them if they don't say 'good morning,'… that was during
my first two months."

The biggest adjustment, he said, was getting used to random bouts of
loneliness.

"I come from a different society," he said. "I was living with my parents at
the age of 25 or 26. I still sought advice from my parents. Compare that to
America, where social bonds are loose..My dad is not here to seek advice
from. I have to do things for myself. I have to be a man, of course.
Sometimes, it's hard."

Even though his friend, Sarr still lives in Murray, Jarju said the on-campus
experience might be easier if he had other Gambians close by to confide in-
or at least to cook with.

"I miss a lot of (my) diet," he said. "I'm not a good cook. Peanut butter
sauce - I like that and I miss it a lot. … I miss a lot of (my) diet, and I
miss a lot of friends."

Although he sometimes feels lonely, Jarju said he has found Murray to be a
pleasant and welcoming town - even if Wal-Mart doesn't carry peanut butter
sauce.

"I have a lot of friends and all my friends are willing to help when I have
problems," he said. "The people I met down here are so nice, so it was like
I was in my second home."

He said he owed his comfort to several people on campus, especially Curris
Center Director Jim Bauer, International Student Adviser Mark Galloway,
Director of International Studies Michael Basile, Professor of
Organizational Communications Stephen Cox, Director of the Adventures in
Math and Science Office Doris Clark-Sarr, International Student Adviser Bill
Mckibben and Associate Vice President Bonnie Higginson.

With all of these people backing him, Jarju said he is trying to persuade
more Gambians to enroll at Murray State.

He said despite a few hardships, the experience is decidedly beneficial.

"Now I believe I can survive in any international arena, any organization,
any place," he said. "I have confidence that I can survive and adapt to the
environment."
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(c) Copyright 2007 The Murray State News

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