Students from other cities and countries can feel uncomfortable during their first few weeks at Eastern. Jemisha Samuels, a sophomore computer information systems major, encountered difficulty when she began attending Eastern last year.

“People were so mean here. They were telling me to go back where I came from,” Samuels said.

Samuels is from Jamaica, where she lived for 16 years. She was homesick during her first year and often felt left out. Some students would stereotype her.

“They would ask me questions like, ‘Do you wear shoes? Do you wear clothes? Do you smoke marijuana?,'” she said.

Samuels was also teased about her accent and language. Jamaicans speak Creole, which is a mixture of English and French.

Inhabitants of Jamaica are more friendly, Samuels said. “If someone from America were to visit Jamaica, we would welcome them into our homes,” Samuels said.

Samuels decided to attend Eastern because her mother lives in the area and colleges are better here than in Jamaica. America is known as the “land of opportunity,” Samuels said.

“Our (Jamaica’s) primary schools and high schools are good, but college is better here,” Samuels said.

Children in Jamaica attend primary school, which is similar to elementary school here, Samuels said.

Because there isn’t a pre-law major option at Eastern, Samuels will attend school here and then travel back to Jamaica to be a lawyer and open her own law firm.

The food here isn’t much different than food in Jamaica, Samuels said. Jamaicans fry, season and marinate their chicken, and they have one type of mustard.

“In Jamaica, we make macaroni and cheese like it is here,” Samuels said.

However, differences do exist, such as the political structure. The country is run by Prime Minister Percival James Patterson and Deputy Prime Minister Seymour Mullings. There are also ministers for various offices, including commerce and agriculture.

“There will be elections this year,” Samuels said.

Similar to how the United States is divided into states, Jamaica is divided into 14 parishes, including Kingston, Westmoreland and Clarendon. The parishes spread out over three counties–Surriy, Middlesex and Cornwall, Samuels said.

Although Samuels has made friends and adjusted to life in Charleston, she still feels homesick. She misses her two younger sisters, Shenelle and Shannon, and she misses the beaches and tropical weather.

“Jamaica is surrounded by the Caribbean Sea, so it doesn’t get too humid. Around December, we may have to wear a sweater around 5 or 6 in the morning. Otherwise, it’s rarely lower than 75 degrees,” Samuels said.