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Geography Matters: Space and Identity in the International Student Experience

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The international student experience can be characterised by a sense of being “in-between”: in between childhood and adulthood; in between dependence and independence and of being between cultures. Although the desire to explore the new environment can mitigate negative feelings, a prolonged sense of in-betweenness can become a burden, and individuals may feel a sense of non-belonging or outsidedness.

International students are physically distanced from their established sources of social support, and relationships from home may diminish with distance and time. Meanwhile, although the desire to build friendships is strong, frequently the opportunities to develop supportive relationships are missed, as individuals may struggle with language or acculturation.

Moreover while students gain confidence and competence in interacting with the host culture, they may find diminished opportunities to integrate as friendships groups have formed and settled around them during the initial buzz. As a result, research suggests that international students often inhabit a “third space," juxtaposed alongside the host culture, while at the same time, isolated from it.

There is a need to explore the space that international students create for themselves to ensure that they are getting access to the right support.