Adapting to a New Home

Insights from Alissa, a first-year international student, on adapting to life in Seattle during her first quarter at UW

Guest Post by Alissa Mustre, FIUTS Facilitator

Moving to Seattle has been a life-changing experience. Before I was born, my parents had lived here for a couple of years and always talked about how beautiful it is. So, naturally, when I got accepted to UW I was beyond excited to start my new life in Washington.

Alissa (right) with friends on the FIUTS orientation boat cruise

I came to orientation with my mom in the summer and was fascinated by how beautiful the city, the campus, and the weather was. Of course, I was then warned that this would not be the type of weather I would be experiencing for the next 4 years in this town… But I was still thrilled.

My mom dropped me off in September and, for a couple of weeks, I was completely fine with living on my own, loving the independence I had here. I didn't have to worry about what time I got home, I could eat what I wanted, I absolutely loved the classes I had picked, etc. I was having the time of my life.

But then it started to rain, the fog set in, and the weather became unbelievably cold for what I was accustomed to (approximately 80˚ - 95˚ F all year long!). Then I got sick. I caught an awful cold and got an ear infection. That’s when it really hit me and the feeling of loneliness started to sink in. I missed how my mom always knew what to do when I got sick. I missed my dad watching football with me. I missed fighting with my sister and then reconciling with her just to borrow one of her nice shirts. And, of course, I missed my marvelous group of friends.

Alissa and her mom at a Huskies football game!

For the next couple of days I was pretty down, so I decided to call my brother. He went through the same thing, he moved to Ohio for college while my parents were back in Mexico, that’s why I thought talking to him would help. And it did. He encouraged me to stop moping around in my room, go to the nurse, and explore the wonderful city I lived in. That was exactly what I did, and suddenly everything got brighter – even the sky! I realized that, of course, everything has its ups and downs, but it’s up to us to create more ups than downs.

Enjoying a FIUTS excursion to the Figgy Pudding Caroling Competition, a Seattle holiday tradition

My sickness went away and I began to feel more aware of the amazing things that surrounded me. I loved exploring the Emerald City, I went to places not even my parents had gone to in their 7 years of living here! I made a lot of friends who were going through the same thing I was going through, and together we made the best of our first quarter here in what I believe is one of the most extraordinary cities in the world.

My best friend once told me to enjoy the inevitable: time. That’s what I've been doing and I've had one heck of a good time doing so.

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Alissa is a first-year UW student from Mexico.