Picture Montgomery County, and one may struggle to capture a singular image. Known for its high ethnic diversity, countless cultures inspire its society as people of all nationalities and religions interact in its institutions, including its top-ranking schools. Among this multicultural population are students who have lived in many nations worldwide, moving frequently for their family’s work. Despite the challenges of adjusting to life—and school—in a new country every few years, these students gain unique perspectives and experiences that shape their worldviews and lives in valuable ways.
As our increasingly globalized world demands an increasingly global workforce, many jobs require parents to relocate internationally. Thanks to its proximity to Washington, DC, some of these families make Montgomery County their—albeit temporary—home. This means there are a high number of international or multicultural students in the county and its schools.
Twins Madeline and Morgan Hill, Wootton seniors, lived in Germany, Greece, Virginia, New York and Switzerland before coming to Montgomery County almost five years ago, because of their parents’ jobs in the State Department. Wootton French and Spanish teacher Cristina Maass, whose father worked for the World Health Organization, spent her childhood moving from Austria to Switzerland, Egypt, Switzerland once again, Bethesda and France. Wootton senior Shree Ram V Kumaran is now in his third year in Montgomery County, having lived in five countries across three continents—Malaysia, Singapore, Belgium, Italy and the United States—as his father got various job postings in his pharmaceutical company’s research labs.
These students have faced the universal effects of moving, along with the unique cultural shifts that follow moving internationally—often multiple times. From navigating new languages and missing old friends to adapting to non-linear schooling and the seemingly endless culture shocks, adjusting can be challenging for international students, especially when it reoccurs every few years. However, the process provides them with newfound skills and knowledge.
Moving around the world affects students’ education in multiple ways. Teachers may instruct content through distinct methods, such as various unit systems or math techniques, which may be simultaneously disorienting and enlightening. More broadly, schools worldwide have different educational goals and curricula.
For instance, in Switzerland, the Hills noticed a priority on in-class projects—to encourage participation in extracurricular activities and sports—rather than the high amounts of homework and busy work in America. While their schooling in America has emphasized science and math, their Swiss school required them to study multiple languages; something they could not do in an American middle school. Additionally, living in different countries gave them the opportunity to learn their distinct histories in depth. “I think that overall, just getting a different perspective from every teacher who’s been able to help us has expanded our knowledge,” Morgan Hill said.
The breadth of content taught in international schools varies greatly. In his small Italian village school, V Kumaran had access to limited course offerings and no course selection. Hence, it was a significant shift for him to move to a large American high school with myriad options. However, this is only part of what he has taken away from his educational experience. “Even though [my education] was impacted a little bit, and I couldn’t always take the most advanced class I could have, I got to learn about different cultures, different ways of living—living on a farm, living in a city, et cetera,” he said. Education does not have to be confined to school; in some cases, the cultural context around it is as important.
One of the most notable aspects of moving internationally are both the subtle and glaring differences in attitudes and social standards. “I’d say everything’s a culture shock when you first get there,” Morgan Hill said. For example, she was struck by the fact that tipping is seen as offensive—a sign of pity—in Switzerland, while it is an American norm.
Nevertheless, beyond their culture shocks, international students gain valuable insights into any cultures they encounter. “In America, everyone—it’s always go, go, go, like you take your food for breakfast on the way, like on the train, to work. I eat on the bus to school. In Switzerland and Greece, they’re really much more relaxed, so while they are really organized, they do like to take their time,” Morgan Hill said. “They just like enjoying life, and they don’t live to work; they work to live, so it’s just a different mindset.”
Maass concurs. “I think I have a much better understanding than certain people who’ve lived only in one country of, for example, diplomacy and international politics. And, you know, I understand when sometimes Americans say something and I hear the reactions of other nations to their comments… that’s one of the reasons I think that learning a foreign language and… hearing perspectives of other countries about what’s going on in the news here in the United States—I think that’s very enlightening.”
V Kumaran believes his experiences have made him more cosmopolitan. “[Moving] definitely shaped me completely. I’d feel perfectly at home in any of the five countries today… I don’t think any one particular culture is better, or one particular food is better, or one particular language is better. And I think that’s something that you only get if you’ve lived in multiple countries when you’re young,” he said. “Otherwise, you’re always going to have this bias towards your own country or one culture… I don’t feel people of different colors, or languages, are worse than me. I feel they’re equal.”
Moving has shifted students’ attitudes on life and change. “I think it’s made us more flexible, and we’re able to adapt to new environments more easily,” Morgan Hill said. Unlike how those who have lived in one place their entire lives might feel, the Hills and V Kumaran do not view going to college as a complete shock. “I’m lucky to say that that’s not a really big deal for us. Like, we’ve lived here for four years. I’m ready to go move again. It just seems right,” she said. Having moved five times in their lives, however, they understand what it feels like to be the “new kid.” “We’ve really tried to make sure that everyone’s included in group activities or in classes… to be more open to other people and flexible in our—around us—in our environment,” Morgan Hill said.
“It’s definitely let us appreciate life a lot more, ‘cause we’ve seen so many different things and then you feel more grateful for what you have,” Madeline Hill said.
“If you ever get the opportunity, for any reason, to go to another country and live there, spend some time there, I highly recommend you take it. And once you go there, try to learn the language, immerse yourself in the culture, make local friends. Don’t just stay in your immigrant community, because that—it’s going to give you a perspective that you never would have had if you’d stayed in your own country,” V Kumaran said.
Written by Daniela Naaman
Graphic by Bella Li