by Danene Bottiaux
Sports Editor
Every year new students enter Bryan College’s campus, and, with them, come athletes from different countries around the world recruited by Men’s Soccer Coach Sandy Zensen and Assistant Coach Joey Johnson. The soccer team’s roster currently includes 12 international players from seven countries: England, Scotland, Germany, New Zealand, Brazil, Kenya and Mexico.
Life in America is very different from other countries. With different religions, eating habits, and laws, it can be difficult for a student from a different country to adjust well to a new culture.
“American culture is different in many ways, but one that I have not really adapted to is the food. Americans, most of the time, eat in restaurants, when in my culture we usually cook,” said junior Jacobo Gallardo, a junior midfielder from Chihuahua, Mexico.
Movies nowadays portray the American lifestyle as glamorous and exciting. When international students come to Bryan, they expect all the hype of college in America but usually discover that the reality at Bryan is different.
Religion is an important factor here at Bryan College. Christianity is a part of virtually every aspect of life at Bryan, and it is hard for an international student to come in with little or no understanding of Christianity.
“Religion in England is not looked upon as a big issue, but obviously here it’s a huge contribution to everyday life, and it’s taken in a much more serious manner,” said sophomore midfielder Tom Hemmings from Oxford, England.
Soccer players say that when they are first recruited, the main things discussed are scholarship, academics and the soccer program’s record of excellence.
“I chose Bryan because of the good soccer record that they were carrying. The coaches were great when recruiting me to Bryan and I felt it would be a good place to come to,” said Hemmings.
Some soccer players say things like mandatory chapel attendance, church attendance, all the required bible classes and curfew aren’t mentioned much during the recruiting process.
“I was told that it was a Christian school, but that was it. They did not tell me about all the rules and chapels,” said Gallardo.
“[I was told] it is a Christian school, not many students, and in Dayton, Tennessee,” said freshman midfielder Elliot Corton from Woodford Green, England.
According to Zensen, each player is thoroughly detailed about all the rules, and he makes it a point early in the recruiting process to inform new players of the rules.
“I suspect that what some students are unable to fully grasp is just how these issues might work themselves out in everyday, campus life and within the context of a decidedly conservative environment,” said Zensen
It takes time to acclimate to a new culture and a new school, and some students end up leaving because it is too much of an adjustment.
“My first semester was hard, and I almost transferred to another school,” said Gallardo. “Bryan culture is unique and it can be hard for some people to adjust. After two years, I am still trying to adjust to some things of the Bryan culture.”