1. Make friends with all kinds of people.
International students often get together, because they usually meet under the guidance of international students at school and form strong ties on the basis of new America. That's great, but you have to part ways with American students and make friends. American students will teach you a lot of cultural knowledge and introduce their other friends to you. You may even be invited to attend Thanksgiving or Christmas celebrations in the United States. Besides, your English will be improved significantly!
2. Don't be embarrassed by being different.
When I am at home in the country, my mother often takes me to my grandparents' village. Every morning, my grandparents will take me and their buffalo to their mulberry field. When the buffalo is farming in the field, I sit on its back, talk to it and sing. This is one of my best memories.
In my first year of college, I never told anyone this story because I thought they would laugh at me and my unusual experience. When I finally shared this story, all my friends laughed in disbelief and told me that it was one of the coolest things they had ever heard. To this day, five years after graduation, some of them still call me "Buffalo Girl".
Being different and growing up in different parts of the world is the reason why you are different. Don't be afraid to talk about yourself and your culture. Your friends will like you.
Speak slowly and ask people to repeat.
As an international student, at first I was embarrassed that English was not my first language. Therefore, I speak quickly and never ask questions when I don't understand. This greatly hindered my communication with others. Speak slowly and clearly with your pronunciation. If it doesn't make sense, keep asking questions. People appreciate this and are more willing to talk to you.
Don't keep too close contact with your family.
This may seem counterintuitive, but keeping in touch with your family will actually make your homesickness worse. The sooner you integrate into the experience of American universities, the sooner homesickness will pass. Don't go home frequently or for a long time, and don't use your spare time to write letters. Make more friends, exercise more, read more and enjoy more, and homesickness will disappear.
Pursue one's own interests
The quickest way for people to combine is through activities. Embrace what you like to do. Most universities have many clubs and organizations and always welcome new members or volunteers. Please pay attention to the posters and leaflets around the campus and ask about your friends' extracurricular activities. At least one will definitely interest you.
If you really can't find what you want to do, break through your comfort zone and try something new! Some of my Zimbabwean friends met a lot of people on the college football team. A Japanese friend met her best friend through an origami studio. I actually performed in the hula dance, although I didn't know what I was doing, and finally I looked like a lost chicken on the stage. Although I had a good time!