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PITTSBURG —
Osama Abu Salah didn’t have a hard time coming from Jordan to America. In fact, it was easier than he expected.
“Jordan is not that much different than America,” Abu Salah said. “They have a modern life. They have Pizza Huts and McDonald’s. It was not really a surprise when I came here.”
Abu Salah is the only student at Pittsburg State from his home country of Jordan. Roughly 40 countries are represented at Pittsburg State.
Osama is working on his MBA at Pittsburg State. He said he attended the school because of its Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) accreditation. Also, the tuition and fees were relatively affordable.
“In my country, it’s a big thing to have an American degree,” he said. “It’s an important thing. It helps you in a new career a lot. Especially with an MBA.”
However, even though Jordan and America are fairly similar, the timing of Osama’s move caused a bit of an issue.
“It was really great to come here,” Abu Salah said. “It was more than what I expected. I came in the middle of the summer, so it was like a ghost city. But I started to meet more people and other international students. I found a really warm society. Life was slower for me here, but it was a good change. It’s a nice environment, with not a lot of distractions.”
Part of Osama’s transition included meeting another group of students with which he had much in common — Saudi Arabian students.
“We have the same language and the same religion,” he said. “We share events like Ramadan, and some dinners and some fasting. There is a mosque here, so we gather together. Jordan is north of Saudi Arabia, so there is a familiarity between the language and religion.”
Abu Salah, as one might guess, is Muslim. Given that he shares a first name with one of the most wanted men in the world, one might wonder if he’s run into any problems.
“Actually, I have not had any problems,” Osama said. “Which is surprising to me, especially with my name. I was expecting to hear something, but I really haven’t.”
While the Middle East a hotbed of strife and concern, Abu Salah said he has not had to deal with much of those problems associated with the area.
“People live normally. Iraq is dangerous,” he said. “Saudi Arabia and Jordan are not dangerous. There were some bombings in the past, but nothing now. It’s just a modern life, with houses and cars.
Osama Abu Salah didn’t have a hard time coming from Jordan to America. In fact, it was easier than he expected.
“Jordan is not that much different than America,” Abu Salah said. “They have a modern life. They have Pizza Huts and McDonald’s. It was not really a surprise when I came here.”
Abu Salah is the only student at Pittsburg State from his home country of Jordan. Roughly 40 countries are represented at Pittsburg State.
Osama is working on his MBA at Pittsburg State. He said he attended the school because of its Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) accreditation. Also, the tuition and fees were relatively affordable.
“In my country, it’s a big thing to have an American degree,” he said. “It’s an important thing. It helps you in a new career a lot. Especially with an MBA.”
However, even though Jordan and America are fairly similar, the timing of Osama’s move caused a bit of an issue.
“It was really great to come here,” Abu Salah said. “It was more than what I expected. I came in the middle of the summer, so it was like a ghost city. But I started to meet more people and other international students. I found a really warm society. Life was slower for me here, but it was a good change. It’s a nice environment, with not a lot of distractions.”
Part of Osama’s transition included meeting another group of students with which he had much in common — Saudi Arabian students.
“We have the same language and the same religion,” he said. “We share events like Ramadan, and some dinners and some fasting. There is a mosque here, so we gather together. Jordan is north of Saudi Arabia, so there is a familiarity between the language and religion.”
Abu Salah, as one might guess, is Muslim. Given that he shares a first name with one of the most wanted men in the world, one might wonder if he’s run into any problems.
“Actually, I have not had any problems,” Osama said. “Which is surprising to me, especially with my name. I was expecting to hear something, but I really haven’t.”
While the Middle East a hotbed of strife and concern, Abu Salah said he has not had to deal with much of those problems associated with the area.
“People live normally. Iraq is dangerous,” he said. “Saudi Arabia and Jordan are not dangerous. There were some bombings in the past, but nothing now. It’s just a modern life, with houses and cars.
“One guy in asked me in Joplin if they had phones in my country. I told him, ‘Yes, we have phones.’”
Osama has noticed several differences between Jordan and the States, however. The first is about family.
“People are more family-oriented in Jordan,” he said. “People don’t leave the house before they get married, unless they go to college. Here, you leave the house after 18. If you’re living in the same city, you don’t leave your parent’s house in Jordan. If you’re staying in the same city, it’s not a very nice thing to do to move out if you are not married. Family comes first in priorities in life before business and work.”
Also, there’s always the food.
“We have a lot of meals combined with rice and bread,” Osama said. “There are different ways of cooking and different spices we use. There’s a different way of making everything. Rice or bread is something we eat daily.”
Osama is from the capital city of Amman, Jordan. He is expected to graduate in the spring of 2010. After that, he is not sure of his plans.
“Probably, I will go get a doctorate at another university,” he said. “If I get that, I will go back home and teach in college or go into business. If I don’t get a Ph.D., I will get into an American company that works in Jordan.”
Andrew Nash can be reached at andrew.nash@morningsun.net or by calling 231-2600 ext. 132.
