are raised that way. It would be easier for a stranger over there because French people are more considerate in general . Americans are more sure of themselves . When you change societies, that is even accentuated. " So many people are outgoing here. They expect you to be the same way they are . I can understand it now, but I didn't at first. They couldn't stop and say, 'Oh , he's French . It might not be the same over there. Maybe we should be ni ce to him,' because they didn't understand that French people were different. They felt they were being nice by being natural. " A characteristic of French people is that they don't want to bother other people . They will never impose themselves . When I first came here and I would see a group of people talking, I would not join them because I felt like that would be imposing myself. You have to be outgoing here. That's the main problem I faced. " American people that are real shy probably have the same problem that I did . I met a lot of people who were real outgoing at first and that's who I compared myself to. Some days it made me feel like not talking to other people because I felt so out of place. Then other days I felt more confident and I found that people were real nice and that made me more friendly . Now I feel more like meeting people and having fun than I did at first. " The humor is different here than what it was in France. I caught on pretty fast , though. I n France, someone who can play on words real well is considered funny , but here it is considered corny . Some jokes, like slapstick humor, are the same. "The churches of Christ are small in France. The church I attended was one of the largest, and they had a mem- ' bership of about 40 . It's small, but the people who go there are strong. In the States - I realize that everyone is not this way - I see a lot that reminds me of the French Catholic. They go to church , but it seems that it stops there. I guess when a man becomes a member of a small church , he must come out of the world . " I guess the first thing you do is compare everything to your home country . Even if you don' t have any problems adj usting, you still get homesick. "American people, except when they study about Europe or some country, don't realize that there's a lot of world outside the States. I guess that is because America IS so selfsufficient. " Lee and Sharon Wills live in 2-6 of the Old Married Students Apartments. It has been their home for their 16 months of marriage . " It's pretty small , but we don't have a whole lot of things, so we have managed to find places for all of it . As far as the rent, you can't beat it . It's fine for a couple." Lee is a senior Bible major from Memphis. Fall semester he preached at Griffithville, and since January he has been the minister of the Batesville congregation. After his graduation in May, he intends to enter Harding Graduate School in Memphis. Sharon graduated in May of 1977 with a degree in special education and is presently teaching junior high and high school classes at Des Arc. She described her first year of teaching as a shock: "There are so many kids that get out and say that they don't like it at all. I was almost like that. I mean , when I got those high school kids, it just almost turned me off." She explained that a good prevention for the maladju stment would be more practi cal experience on the junior or senior high levels, and "a lot of work in the area of discipline. I know they can't tell you what "to do in every situation ; but still , I had to learn for myself ." During the first year of their marriage, before Sharon graduated, they both worked in Heritage Cafeteria . Since their parents have agreed to pay most of the educational costs, the money that they make goes to pay for groceries, gas, utilities and rent on the apartment. "We have to manage our money, though. We try to do it together so we both know how much money we have and where it is going. It helps a whole lot. I have heard that some couples like for just one to manage the money; but that way, the other one doesn't kn~w what is going on ." lee and Sharon Wills Lee and Sharon agreed that one of the main adjustments from single to married life is the social change. " It has been difficult for me this year because I really feel out of it . We don't go and do as many things on campus. We have our own life right here with the other couples in the building," Sharon commented. "The real difference I've found," added Lee, " is that I have to concentrate more on finding out the activities going on during the week. When you' re living in the dorm, you overhear people talking about things; but when you' re separated from the campus, you don' t hear as much." Theta Alpha Gamma, commonly called TAG, is the club for married students. The recent efforts of the club have been to get the couples of the Old Married Students Apartments and the New Apartments together. " I think it is real good fellowship, myself. We have had a lot of fun just getting together with other married people," Sharon said. " Is it true that your grades go up when you get married?" is the question that Lee is most often asked by engaged men. HE!' answers: " It's true. I think the reason why is that you have more time . I figured out that when I lived in Harbin and Sharon lived in Kendall , it took ten minutes to walk over there and ten minutes to walk back, and that's 20 minutes. When you do that three or four times a day, it adds up to over an hour of walking back and forth . Now that I don't have to do that, I have more time to study." "Another consideration is that you can study and rest better," added Sharon. "If you want to go to bed, you can; if you don't, there's no one making noise to hinder your thinking, so you can get a lot more done. " 27 • Adjustments
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