Patrick Gong, 22, works as a market intelligence specialist for Coffin Communications Group in Sherman Oaks, California. The company provides investor relations solutions, including corporate communications and crisis counseling. Gong, who grew up in Malaysia, moved to the US to attend the University of Nebraska at Lincoln (UNL). He graduated in December 1999.

Monster.com: Did you experience any culture shock when you moved to Nebraska?

Patrick Gong: My first shock was how divided the students were. Coming from a racially tolerant society, I had expected to find the world's melting pot a lot more welcoming and friendly. I found the locals friendly, yet they were very distant at the same time. They would talk to you but not want to get to know you. If you tried to strike up a conversation, most would look at you funny.

My second shock was with the freedom of speech. They used to, and still do, allow just about anyone to come on campus and approach students about one thing or another. My experience was with the anti-abortion activists, who were handing out explicit pictures of aborted fetuses and yelling at people. My third shock was the speech volume. Most Asians would talk softly, except in places where they felt comfortable, and here I was in a classroom with two guys conducting a conversation from one end of the room to the other.

Mc: What were the transition's challenges?

PG: I had to spend a lot of time explaining my culture to people. A lot of ignorant people were asking me if it was true that Malaysians still lived in the trees, and others tried to tell me about Christianity, not realizing my family has been Methodist Christians for more than six generations. It got to a point where I was getting tired of having to explain misconceptions. And the times when I did try to explain things, I was met only with skepticism and disbelief.

Mc: Was it difficult to meet people who weren't from Asia?

PG: Most of the people at UNL were from the same high schools. It's hard to break into a clique of friends that have known each other for ages. It came to a point where you had to either mix with the other foreign students, those who wanted to get to know foreign students or end up alone. By mixing only with other foreign students, that again led to the stereotype of foreigners being stuck up and not wanting to mix with others. Sometimes, when you get into a class, you take a seat and see all the other students avoid you. You end up sitting alone or with another foreign student.

Mc: What's an example of something that's different in the US and Malaysia?

PG: The people you mix with, for one. In Malaysia, it's all about the level you're on in the hierarchy. The rich only mix with the rich. And the rich do certain things that the middle class don't do. Here, it's the freedom to mix with those above and below you in earnings. No hierarchy.

Mc: What advice would you have for someone coming from another country to study in the US?

PG: Come with an open mind. As people like to say, "When in Rome, do as the Romans do." A lot of Asians find it hard to adapt because of the cultural differences and environmental changes. It's better to immerse yourself in the culture and rediscover who and what you are and what you would be in another country. Second is to not have too many expectations, as most of what you would think about the US is stereotypical, coming from movies and such. Lastly, enjoy yourself and try to make full use of your time here, not just studying but living life. You can spend an entire lifetime in a country and not learn about it if you don't try.