a different perspective [international students] 25 Land of opportunity for international student Freshman BradleyWolhuter,originally from Empangeni,a town in the KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa, made his home in Searcy. As a Caucasian living in South Africa, Wolhuter belonged to a minority group.In the United States,people were surprised whenWolhuter told them he was from South Africa. “I live near the city,so there are people of every race and religion there,”Wolhuter said. “We call it the ‘Rainbow Nation’. I see more cultures there. America is sort of the same with the diversity.” SouthAfrica had 11 official languages,English being the most prevalent.Wolhuter spoke English, Afrikaans and enough Zulu to carry on a conversation. Growing up in South Africa, Wolhuter spent a lot of time body surfing at the beach,which was only 10 minutes from his house and hanging out with friends and with the church youth group known as the Geni Gangsters. Wolhuter also played cricket for Kwa-Zulu Natal. Wolhuter said that one of the main differences between American and South African culture was that the culture there was not as focused on the media. “When I hang out with friends,we don’t go to the movies,”Wolhuter said.“We do something socially constructive.We will also go to the game reserve or the beach.” In 1980 a group of missionaries from a congregation in Texas went to South Africa and started a church.Wolhuter grew up in this Church of Christ where his dad was an elder. Starting in 2005,three a cappella groups went to Empangeni,andWolhuter had the opportunity to talk with them about church and college.In 2006,Wolhuter came to the U.S. with his father to tour colleges. When a singing tour came through his city in South Africa, he decided to come back to America with them. Wolhuter was surprised that he was not very homesick after he left to attend school since he talked to his parents only once a day on the phone. “America is my favorite country,”Wolhuter said.“The people are great,and there is a lot of Christianity.Why would I not want to live in my favorite country?” He enjoyed learning the different things about his new culture. Wolhuter said his favorite thing about America was free refills at restaurants.Wolhuter also loved how young people could be and still obtain a driver’s license. In his home state, the legal driving age was 18.Wolhuter left South Africa when he was 17, so he still did not have a driver’s license when he came to the States. Wolhuter began studying business in order to fulfill his goal of getting an MBA. With this degree, he did not know exactly what he wanted to do, but he knew that he wanted to help the people of South Africa, whether through the church or prison ministry. “In America,the education is bigger and more important,”Wolhuter said.“I have more opportunities here. I have been made to feel welcome.” [Michelle Greer]
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