Riverland International Student Club

Driver and Vehicle Service

Ivan Okhin — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 20:29:51 +0000

Getting Your Minnesota License
With the exception of commercial drivers, you have 60 days after becoming a Minnesota resident in which to apply for your Minnesota driver’s license or permit. Commercial drivers have 30 days.

Title Your Vehicle in Minnesota
New residents have 60 days after becoming a resident in which to register their passenger vehicle, motorcycle, utility trailer or house trailer, provided the registration displayed on the vehicle is current. If the registration is expired or if the vehicle is a commercial trailer or truck, you must obtain registration immediately.

F-1 Optional Practical Training Check List

Ivan Okhin — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 20:20:30 +0000

If you believe you are eligible for OPT and would benefit from practical training in your field of study, request a recommendation for OPT from an international advisor who is a Designated School Official (DSO) at your school. Your DSO has to recommend you for OPT in SEVIS and provide you with an updated Form I-20 showing the recommendation. You will submit that Form I-20 with the application for employment authorization…..

F-1 Optional Practical Training Check List

International Education Week 2009

Ivan Okhin — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 22:55:21 +0000

International Education Week is an opportunity to celebrate the benefits of international education and exchange worldwide. This joint initiative of the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education is part of our efforts to promote programs that prepare Americans for a global environment and attract future leaders from abroad to study, learn, and exchange experiences in the United States.

We encourage the participation of all individuals and institutions interested in international education and exchange activities, including schools, colleges and universities, embassies, international organizations, businesses, associations, and community organizations.

The dates for IEW 2010 are November 15th – 19th. The dates for IEW 2011 are November 14th – 18th.

This year we had the following country presentations (PowerPoint):

Kyrgyzstan (by Kanykei Kadyrberdieva)
Moldova (by Victoria Vlad)
South Korea (by YunJe Lee, Youn Kim, and Soyoung Kim)
Myanmar (Burma) (by Yi Mon Thet Aung and Wai Lwin Thet Aung)
Ukraine (by Ivan Okhin)

Yi Mon Thet Aung

Olya Ibragimova

Ivan Okhin — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 06:35:00 +0000

Hello!!! I’m Olga from Turkmenistan and I am alumni of the Global UGRAD program’09, Austin, MN and I visited RCC and that was awesome!!!
You know, sometimes many things in life are challenging, but obstacles can be always overcome…to be a newcomer in another city or country can be challenging, and whenever one goes somewhere everything looks new. Sometimes, one feels good or bad being in a new place. To be honest, first days in America were boring for me, I felt myself isolated a little bit and I was afraid of coming a new day. You may be laughing, or say that I was not mature enough or I might be like a child, but I bet every international student goes through such a test, because everything seems absolutely different. However, being far from sweet home, I understood one very important lesson in my life that wherever I go I must seize every opportunity to get to know new things and experience both challenges and good times. To tell you the truth, I did not want to leave my friends, school and favorite places at the end of the last month of my stay in states. I felt I didn’t want to go back to my country. So I’ve been adjusted to a new culture and I liked that. I was able to tell about my culture, traditions and customs to different people. I got very good experience, knowledge and new skills. I really understood what a melting pot means when I was walking in the crowd streets of Chicago, and I realized how life in America is rushing.
To be short, being in states not only helped me to go through challenges (that helped me to see who I am) but it also gave me a great opportunity to explore America by my own. I realized how time is very important, how manageable I became and how life is various when you see it from another part of the word. Take a chance to explore and experience, I adore it…

Kanykei Kadyrberdieva

Ivan Okhin — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 22:54:08 +0000

My name is Kanykei Kadyrberdieva. I am a foreign exchange student from Kyrgyzstan, Central Asia. I major in Business Administration in the American University of Central Asia, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. This academic year 2009-2010 as a finalist of the of Global Undergraduate Exchange Program (UGRAD) funded by the US Department of States, Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and administered by the International Research and Exchanges Board, I was tentatively placed at Riverland Community College.

I like the college for its simple educational system and great consistency of offered courses. As for me, I am very satisfied with the courses I take at the college. Given amazing opportunity to learn more about American culture and history, I took American Government and Democracy and Intro to Theatre and Film classes along Business courses. Even though my major is Business, I am very interested in politics and law.

The faculty and the students in college are very friendly and helpful. They are always willing to assist students with course schedules, to provide necessary information and to give their warm advices. There are several centers that help students on their studies, so it seems that in existence of writing and tutoring centers no single student is going to fail any of his classes.

Moreover, Riverland Community College is rich in extra curriculum activities and clubs. I am personally a member of International Student Club and Amnesty International US. I try to be involved in as many clubs as possible, though doing community service and participating in outside activities are also of my primary interests. I enjoy volunteering in Austin Public Library and in American Association of University Women (AAUW).

Consequently, I like studying at Riverland Community College, because this college is worth being chosen for the place to continue your higher education and gain valuable knowledge.

Personally, I want to express my giant gratitude to all my instructors, workers of Admission Office and endless love and respect to our wonderful and irreplaceable international advisor Mel Morem.

Riverland Community College welcomes Global UGRAD Fellows

Ivan Okhin — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 02:45:23 +0000

Riverland Community College welcomes three new international students on campus as part of the U.S. Department of State’s Global Undergraduate Exchange Program in Eurasia & Central Asia (Global UGRAD). These new Riverland students include Tatia Gogoladze from Georgia, Kanykei Kadyrberdieva from Kyrgyzstan, and Victoria Vlad from Moldova. continue reading »

Victoria Vlad

Ivan Okhin — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 17:00:15 +0000

My experience at Riverland started in August 2009. My major is Economics here, at Riverland, and International Economic Relations back in my country, Moldova. Before coming to Riverland I completed one year of International Economics Relations in the Academy of Economic Studies of Moldova.

My dream was and still is to study in the USA. My dream came true this year. In December 2008 I applied for Global UGRAD. I took part in this contest of IREX (International Research & Exchanges Board) and was selected for participation in the Global Undergraduate Exchange Program, a program of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) of the United States Department of State and administered by IREX.

Being a student at Riverland is a wonderful experience. Actually is the way you make your experience. But this is another story. Initially I didn’t want to come to Riverland. I was happy to know I won the contest, but my happiness vanished when I found out my location. I wanted to quit the chance. I wrote to the IREX Senior Program Officer, telling her I’m disappointed in the location they chose for me. I judged it without knowing it. With the help of my parents, who gave great advice, I realized that was not a chance to be missed.

Here I am, at Riverland College, I simply love it. And yes, it is the way you make it. I am a full time student, enjoying the courses offered at Austin Campus, such as Financial Accounting, Personal Financial Management and Planning and Popular Culture.

I am a positive, hard-working girl, and every day I struggle for my dreams, I walk on the path of life with my head up, trying to be the best in everything that I do. Riverland and its teachers and advisers, all try to make everything better, just for you. They are focusing on individuals. This way you feel more special and responsible to be a good student.

I successfully completed a series of trainings in Business and Leaderships: Leader Project, Richard Ivey School of Business, May 2009. Also I have an award of completion the Summer School of Business and Leadership, June 2009, Romania, Brasov. In April 2009, I took an award taking part in the International Symposium of Young Researchers, with a project called “Development of International Economic Relations in conditions of economic crisis”. I also have an award in a Literature International contest, Romania, July 2007. I am a journalist at my Faculty’s newspaper “REI-Action”.

Every day I try to acquire knowledge and the best experiences here, at the college. On campus, a lot of opportunities wait to be experienced. I mean about the student organizations you can get involved in and keep yourself busy, getting skills for your future career. Currently, I am the President of Amnesty International. Also, in the International Student Club I have the Vice-President role, which requires me to assist the President in coordinating club’s activities. As a Phi Theta Kappa provisional member recently I took part in the Fall Leadership Conference. Moreover, I had the chance to participate at the MN Student Leadership Summit, as a member of the Student Senate.

Back in my country I volunteered for the Association of European Trainers from Moldova. As a Riverland student, I took part in American Red Cross and Austin Public Library volunteer activities.

You can gather a valuable experience and meet great people at Riverland. It is an honor for me to be a part of an energetic team of young people who have the same values and ideas as I do.

Riverland helps me a lot. My long-term career prospects are enhanced by my experiences through the development of self-confidence, independence and cross-cultural skills.

Returning to “the other story” it is really up to you weather you want to have a good experience or not at Riverland. My experience is amazing.

“The best is yet to be”. ~Robert Brown~

Olena Berezovska

Ivan Okhin — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 21:08:03 +0000

Hi!

My name is Olena. On January 2009 I came to Minnesota to study in Riverland Community College.

I came to Riverland because my Ukrainian university and Riverland Community College are sister colleges. The cause why I chose Riverland Community College and not another college is low tuition and good future prospects. Tuition is really low, even for international students. As Riverland Community College is 2-year College I probably would like to continue my education at university or 4-year College. And for this case Riverland Community College suggest a bunch of good propositions. Riverland Community College cooperates with Mankato, Winona and Minnesota state universities. Also, I could freely transfer to any college inside of Minnesota.

As I’m international student is very important for me to have good advisor; I’ve never studied in America and maybe some educational nuances are not understandable for me. In Riverland Community College I met all this assistance and attention towards international students. I’m appreciating their help, especially relief of international advisor.

Hope to see you soon in Riverland Community College!

Nay Aung

Ivan Okhin — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 21:05:32 +0000

Hi!

I heard about RCC from a friend. She always talks about how RCC is friendly and good. So when i had some conflicts with my old college from the different state, I decided to transfer to RCC and found out that all the good things that she was talking about were correct. People here in MN are very frinedly and kind. They helped me with everything, such as helping me moving the house, giving me funitures etc etc. My experiences were so positive that i don’t even want to transfer from RCC anymore after I’m done with my AAS Degree.

Yi Mon Thet Aung

Ivan Okhin — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 21:04:25 +0000

Hi! My name is Yi Mon!

I came to USA about a year ago. I found out about RCC on the internet and RCC seems very very peaceful. So I called the International Office in RCC and met my international student advisor Mel Morem. She helped me a lot and she cares about all the international students.When I landed on the USA, the school picked me up. All of the teachers and staff in RCC are very kind and friendly. Shortly after i fell in love with American culture and freedom.