Bakersfield College was able to hear world perspectives through the eyes of international students as a part of Women’s History Month.  The panel of international students was on March 7 and had students from various parts of the world that are currently students at Bakersfield College.

Most of the women had similar struggles first arriving here, most notably with the English language.  Maria Villela from Honduras, couldn’t believe she wasn’t doing well in her English classes.

“When it comes to writing you think to yourself ‘Did I really go to school and did I really learn English?’ because I was so disappointed when I would get a C on my paper,” said Villela.

Polish student Magdalena Bogacz said, “I understood probably 5% of what the teacher was saying.  It was like Chinese. I couldn’t even raise my hand to say that I’m here when they were taking the roll call because I was so afraid to say here.”

Other differences the women saw here were with our school system.  Bogacz said, that in Poland students need to pass calculus 3 in order to graduate high school.

“I think we’re ahead when it comes to math and I think that’s the only field where we’re really ahead of you guys.”

Other differences the women saw were in simple day-to-day life.  Alfeah Muharram from Yemen had a hard time with driving laws.  “We don’t have any laws for driving in Yemen so I passed every stop sign here.

“I couldn’t pump my own gas. In Yemen they do that for you.  I sat clueless, half an hour at the gas station waiting for someone to pump my own gas for me.”

Deborah Ramos, who was raised in both Spain and The Philippines, had a hard time understanding American currency.

“Whenever I had coins I would throw them out somewhere.  I just couldn’t figure it out,” said Ramos.

The women also pointed out the differences in the roles of women here and in their home countries.

Esther Anazado of Nigeria said, “Girls ages 15-21 get married and end up being housewives.

“We sit at home, make babies, get married, die, that’s it.”

The women in Yemen also have a similar living.

“She is the mother, she is the caring housewife, she is the nurturer of every child,” said Muharrram.  “She is uneducated, unhealthy, uncared for and so she will raise children who will carry the same ignorance creating a new generation of ignorant children with no improvement whatsoever, which is causing it to be a Third World country.”

“Most of it is that [women] aren’t encouraged to have an education.”

This was only the second event planned for women’s history month.  Another event showcasing international women of the Bakersfield area was held later that night.