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Out of East Africa, 'Tisho' calls Utah home now By
Lindsey Blau LOGAN -- It is not hard to spot Anley E. Tefera walking around the campus. He makes his way through the hallway catching the eyes of those who pass. With his dark, black coffee-colored skin and defining masculine features, Anley carries himself high and proud when announcing that he is from East Africa. Though his name is Annely, he says he changed his name to another original name from his country to make it easier for Americans to pronounce. Standing about 5-foot-8, he gives his friends high-fives as he passes, and introduces himself to those he doesn't know, always saying, "You can call me T. It is short for Tisho." When Tisho first came to Utah State, he was afraid to introduce or even talk to people, but now he is no longer afraid to go up to people and introduce himself. "It was scary to come to a whole new country. I tried to go to the HPER or the Fieldhouse on campus to play basketball, and no one wanted to play with me. I was a little scared because I didn't think anyone would understand me if I said something, so I wouldn't talk to people. Getting to know people was probably the hardest thing." It wasn't the weather, it wasn't the lack of English; it was the lack of communication from the students attending USU. Looking across the room with his dark brown-black eyes, Tisho searches for his words. His bright smile lights up as he "gives a shout out" to all of his friends on the university campus. He has been attending Utah State for two and a half years. Smiling, Tisho says, "At first it was hard for me to come to school here because I was used to having so many friends back in Oromia, where I am from. It was easy to make friends with people in Africa. Here it was harder to make friends, especially because I am in a foreign country." Tisho admits the transition between life in Africa and his life in America has been hard, but he has come to love it. Tisho also says it has been hard to be stereotyped because of his skin color because he comes from a place where the population is diverse and has never had that problem before. Last summer, Tisho went to California for a summer job and recognized the different views people had about him compared to those at Utah State. "Utah State does not have a lot of diversity, so I do get stereotyped into one type of people, the sports type," he said. Tisho laughs as he thinks of an instance where he was walking down the Taggart Student Center hallway, wearing a USU football sweatshirt. "This guy came up to me telling me that 'we' did a great job at the football game. He automatically assumed I played for the team because I was wearing a USU football sweatshirt and because I am black. At first it bothered me, but now it's a little funny, and sometimes I go along with it saying thank you and all that. But I am used to it now," he says, covering his mouth as he laughs. Tisho is one of many international students attending USU. The majority of international students come here because of the great educational programs. The number of international students attending USU has gone up in the past couple years. During the years 1997-1999 there were 795 international students at USU. From 2000-2002 the international population has increased to 1,049 students. Tisho recognizes the transition and thinks it is great because he believes Utah State is a great school. Coming from a family of six, Tisho feels privileged to come to America to study. He proudly declares that he came to Utah three years ago to work for money that is sustaining his life at USU. Back home in Africa, his father is an accountant and his mother is a social worker. They helped him pay for the trip to America, but since that time, Tisho has been working at Angie's restaurant as a busboy earning the money to go to college. His parents are proud to send him to a really good college. "I came to Utah State University because a lot of my cousins and many other Oromos I know, the Oromos being my people and all, have come here. They told me it is great school for the engineering program and I thought to myself, 'OK. I'll go and check it out," he said. Though it was a hard transition from his homeland to America, he says there has been an overwhelming feeling of peace since he arrived, something he was not used to experiencing. Tisho was born and raised in Oromia, a part of East Africa that is part of the present day Ethiopia. His skin is darker than the average African's because of the distinct regional area. "If there was anything I would want people to know about me, it would have to be that Oromia is going to be a free country soon. We have been fighting for our independence from the colonial Ethiopians for many, many years now. We Oromians are spreading the word that a new state of East Africa is coming." Tisho looks up at ceiling remembering and recalling all the fun times he had, which may have to be put on a hold because of the ongoing struggle in his country. Tisho comes from a fun-loving background full of happy memories, including huge parties. He misses the endless celebration called Meskel, held during the beginning of September. Every year his family would wake up between 3 and 5 in the morning and go outside in their yard and build a fire. The patriarch of the home would then light a special stick and pass the flame on to the rest of the family. There would be hours worth of cooking incredible African breakfast dishes. Following breakfast, Tisho's family would put on their best dresses and suits and go to church. Tisho recalls the days that were filled with laughter, dance, song and food, amid the war that raged on around them. "We are kind of in a guerilla war right now and people in North America and Europe are helping aid our armies by giving us money to organize. The people living in North America really support the Oromos and help us out a lot. Not only do they help us, but they have a big festival every year in differing states. Each July there is a big event or celebration involving the Oromian culture, so America is very supportive of our country." He says the safe feeling and secure atmosphere of America, and especially Utah, reassured him that Utah State was the best place he could come to. But coming over was not an easy process. In order for an international student to come to the United States to study, they have to have an asylum. Bartleby.com gives the definition that an asylum entitles those coming into the United States the "right of receiving protection within a foreign embassy or other place recognized by custom, law, or treaty." There are many rights given to international students mentioned in the asylum including the right to "live and to defend his/her life and livelihood," as stated in Chapter XA, Human Rights, Article 28A. It also states that all international students, "shall have the right to live, to grow, and to be protected against violence and discrimination." These rules are only two of 10 articles on the rights of international students. Besides the asylum needed, USU offers an undergraduate application that includes what the university needs in order to accept international students. If international students want to attend USU, they must submit a university application for admission along with a $35-40 fee depending on student status. They must also submit all official transcripts, provide evidence of financial capability, and meet the English requirement. Utah State requires that all international students carry a full schedule of 12 credits to be enrolled at USU. It is stated in the Admission Records of USU, "Those who cannot maintain this level of academic performance will be suspended or dismissed in accordance with existing University policy." This is university policy for all students. Tisho has survived the pressures of being a Utah State student and keeping his grades high while also juggling a steady job. His keen intelligence has helped him catch on quickly to the language and the culture. After being at Utah State for two and a half years, Tisho finally feels at home. "I miss my parents and all, but I really like it here too. I guess I call Utah my home now." In the end it all worked out. Tisho/s outgoing, friendly personality has taken over his life as he has made many friends, disregarding any stereotype that may be placed on him. Though Tisho confesses that it was hard for him to make the transition from one country to another, he says it was all worth it. Tisho makes his way slowly down the hallway stopping every couple of seconds to say hi to another friend. He looks around only to see a world that was once foreign to him. A world he can finally call home.
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