Students leave family, country for education
Masaki Onaga’s wife almost didn’t marry him when he told her he planned to go to Utah State University. And more than three years later, she cried when he left her to go thousands of miles across the Pacific to begin classes.
Onaga is one of almost a thousand international students and scholars currently attending USU who left behind their home and country to be here. Many of these students were unable to bring their spouses with them.
Bringing a spouse and child can be complicated, said Craig LaRocco, director of theOffice of International Students and Scholars. Many students find it difficult to get visas for their families, and many more simply cannot afford the expense of bringing their family to the United States. International students are required to show an additional $5,000 before they can bring a spouse, and $2,000 for children, LaRocco said.
If the family is able to come, Logan has a community committee to help them adjust and learn about local culture.
“They have social activities and cultural activities to assist in giving the social opportunities and friends they might not have had otherwise,” LaRocco said.
The reasons international students choose to come to USU vary from the appeal of the mountains to the need for a specific program the university offers, LaRocco said.
“They are interested in a new cultural experience,” he said.
Onaga chose USU because in order to work landscape architecture in the Asian countries he wants to, he needs to know English, and a landscape architecture degree in Japan is not enough to get those jobs.
“I want to be an expert at construction,” he said.
When he made the decision to leave Japan his life was different – he had no wife and no child. When his future wife learned about his plans, “she was upset and wanted to break up,” Onaga said.
However, Onaga wanted to marry her and was able to persuade her to stay with him on one condition.
“She wanted a child before I left,” he said. “She didn’t want to be alone.”
Last July, Onaga left his wife, Maki, and infant daughter, Kyoka, and came to Logan.
“When I got on the airplane, I was crying during the whole time on the airplane,” Onaga said. “I don’t know why, but there were tears dropping.”
Being away from his family got easier because of technology to keep them in touch, Onaga said.
“I call once a week, but e-mail almost everyday,” he said.
He also has a friend with a digital camera and a recorder, so he can send voice-mail over the computer. Onaga also had the opportunity to go home over Christmas break.
Bassilla, another student in a similar situation, also found telephone and e-mail helped him feel close to his wife, though she is in Paris.
“But you still miss her physical presence,” he said.
Bassilla wanted to come to the United States for the cultural experience and chose USU because he has family here. Like Onaga, he is also hoping his wife will be able to join him in the next couple of months.
Having his family so far away is both a distraction and a motivation for Onaga.
“I have a lot of time to think about them. When I was in Japan, I did not need to think about them because we saw each other everyday,” he said.
Onaga has a friend with a daughter the same age as his Kyoka. His friend’s daughter reminds him of his own.
“I really want to see her. Sometimes I call them, and she will never speak on the phone,” Onaga said.
His family’s distance also motivates him to concentrate on school, “because I want to go home as soon as possible,” he said.