International student interview CULS — NIGERIA

iZUN: What do you think of the Czech Republic?

Well I have been here for quite a little while, I spent about a year in the Czech Republic; but left for home and came back recently and I've been here about six months now. I think the Czech Republic is a beautiful place and that some of the people here are really friendly.

iZUN: What is your opinion of ČZU University?

The university is really good and the environment is really conducive for learning... the teachers are nice and they try their best to help their students as much as they can.

iZUN: Does your country pay the local education?

No, they don't, they only do that in public secondary schools and if the student applies to get scholarship.

iZUN: Are there any differences between the education system here and in your country?

The number of years spent in tertiary education here is shorter and the system of education is somewhat better. Apart that, the procedures foreigner has to go through to get their credentials non-attached is quite strenuous and to comment the fact, that the government pays the fees of the Czech students.

iZUN: How do you live your culture here in the Czech Republic?

Well, I attend parties hosted by people from my country and sometimes I get to wear traditional customs.

iZUN: Have you heard about ČZU before coming to the university?

Yes, I heard about it before coming. My sister, she started the university here and told me about it.

iZUN:

iZUN: What do you like the most about ČZU?

The environment, the plants and the way the school looks in winter, also I like some of the teachers.

iZUN: What do you like less about ČZU?

Some of the teachers, they don't teach well. I study in English, in some of the lectures they do not speak properly.

iZUN: Do you have Czech friends?

A few, they are not up to 10.

iZUN:

iZUN: Do you usually go out at night? Where?

No, I don't.

iZUN: Are you feeling homesick?

Yes.

iZUN: Tell us something about yourself?

I like to read, watch movies and sleep. I sometimes like to be around friends. Sometimes adjusting to change can be very difficult.

iZUN: Can you think about a specific time when you needed to adapt to change and what steps you took in order to be successful in it? What was the outcome?

Well, change has been constant in my life, and I've come to realize that when thing/situation changes, you just have to adjust and change with it, because if you don't, you'll end up being left out... This has always worked well for me.

iZUN: Why did you choose ČZU?

Because my sister was here and my parents wanted me here as well.

iZUN: Why did you choose your course? Tell me about what you have learnt?

Economics. Well, from this course I have learnt about different forms of government and how to behave in a business organization and work under pressure and I have also learnt more about the different economies of the world.

iZUN: Can you tell me something about your city?

Well, I grew up in Lagos. The city is beautiful and it is fun to be in, it is quite small but it's bigger than Prague, it has over 9 million people living there.

iZUN: What types of food do you eat there?

In Lagos, there are hundreds of different traditional dishes because of the diversity in culture, for example ofada rice, isi ewu, rice etc.

iZUN: What facets of this experience at the Czech Republic have been challenging you?

Being away from home is quite challenging. I've always been with my family and now I'm alone here, so it's quite challenging to be independent, not really having anyone to depend on.

iZUN: What is the general perception of the Czech Republic in your home country? Are those perceptions correct? In your opinion, what are the Czech Republic´s greatest strenght and weaknesses?

Well, I didn't really have any perception of the Czech republic before coming here. Now, that I'm here, I think the Czech economy is one of its strength, though it's struggling like other economies of the world, yet living here is quite okay. The greatest weakness is their language problem. Most foreign people in the Czech Republic speak English or any other foreign language.

As for things I don't like in CZU, the fact that most things are done in Czech and sometimes it is hard to communicate with people in the school due to language barriers.

iZUN: And finally our traditional question. What do you think of poultry cages?

I don't really know much about poultry, but I don't really like the idea of keeping animals in cages (even chickens). I think it's abusing them and they produce eggs and meat for our consumption, so they shouldn't be treated like that. They should be kept in free areas, I think they would be healthier and they would reproduce better.