It’s one thing to live abroad, but what goes on in one’s mind if you find yourself all by your lonesome in a foreign land, away from your family, in the Christmas season?
For newly crowned Miss Silliman International, Nursing sophomore Abigail Ademola of Nigeria, being away from home is a first-time experience, but being far from your family on a joyous occasion like Christmas “feels incomplete.”
Abigail, just like some international students of Silliman University, has stayed in Dumaguete City since the pandemic started and has not ventured out of the city and province since then.
“Well, it’s a good thing I was enrolled for the summer term, or the midyear term as it is now called, and I really did not have much choice except to pore my time and effort on my classes,” remarked Abigail, who was also named Miss Global Speaker.
Confessing to having had bouts of worry and anxiety as events on campus were cancelled one after the other in March, she shared: “Each time I get concerned about things, I turn to my Bible for comfort, and it has helped me a lot.”
Having a very strong support system being offered by Silliman University, especially to her international students through the International Students Center, alleviated Abigail’s fears. “Our teachers are more than just facilitators of learning. We can talk to them and ask them questions pertaining to our lessons, and sometimes even about life in general. It also helps that the SU Church conducts Bible studies and daily prayer meditations since the pandemic virtually,” expressed Abigail.
On the other hand, for sophomore Mechanical Engineering student Joseph Mbilu of Tanzania, newly proclaimed Mister Silliman International, he is blessed to have both parents and a brother staying with him in Dumaguete. His father is a missionary teaching at the Divinity School of Silliman University, while his brother also goes to school.
Nigeria and Tanzania both have very stringent requirements for students wanting to get a degree, aside from the exorbitant cost. “We need to take and pass several written exams before we can be admitted. We have a big class size, too, 500 students to one teacher,” Abigail expounded.
“I am glad my family is with me, especially at this time of the pandemic. If I want to talk to someone about anything or about some advice in school or otherwise, my parents are just around. It was extremely difficult especially in the months of strict quarantine, but being with family helped appease our feelings,” shared Joseph.
Like Abigail, he has been staying in Dumaguete for the past two years already. He finds Dumaguete and its people very friendly and one thing that amazes him is when people holler, “Amigo!” to him wherever he goes downtown.
“I have always been fascinated with Engineering as a profession since I was a little boy, and now, it has been realized,” Joseph, who was named best in cultural presentation, enthused.
Their experience with competing in the first-ever virtual Mister and Miss Silliman International was “one-of-a-kind,” giving them an alternative activity and momentarily taking their minds off from the disturbing situation worldwide.
An annual activity of the Hibalag-Students from Around the World (Hi-SAW) campus organization held February of each year in line with Inter-Cultural Exchange Month, it was moved to October as events were cancelled by then. Thus, upon the initiative of the International Students Center headed by Moses Joshua Atega, the activity pushed through as a fitting way to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of the United Nations on October 24, 2020.
Despite students being busy with their full online classes, the candidates were able to beat the deadline with the required videos, which they themselves produced. “It was a team effort, with everyone helping and encouraging each other,” Atega, popularly known on campus as “Kuya Moe,” said.
The rest of the candidates were Miae Seo, Korea, BSN-II, best in national costume and best in talent; Kyra Halterman, USA, BSN-II, Miss Professionalism; Malayaj Rai, India, BS Biology-IV, Cultural Ambassador; and Dalton Glova, USA, BS Biology-III, best in formal attire and Mr. Congeniality.
A total of 283 international students are currently enrolled at Silliman University, with 234 in the college or tertiary level and 49 in basic education. – NWI
