Mike Green is a director of the SEBS Office of Communications and Marketing.
Journey To the U.S.
My journey to the US began in 1989 when I applied to Rutgers Newark for my Masters in Public Administration from a beach (shore) suburb in Adelaide, South Australia. As I am writing this I am almost in disbelief that in this Information Age my research into Rutgers, Newark and New York City (closest landmark) was conducted via the encyclopedia Britanica which was housed in my local library and through watching movies featuring New York as there was no internet or email. I did, however, seek out someone local who had some Newark experience, Andrew Gaze who was a local basketball player who starred in Seton Hall’s last Final Four appearance.
So armed with all my thoughts and expectations, off I went. On my first day at Rutgers Newark I went to meet with the international student advisor; he explained that I needed to go to Bloomfield for a social security card so he gave me $2 and told me where the bus stop was and so began my journey here at Rutgers. I hope those who are reading this appreciate the Office of International Programs and the people, services, programs and support they offer as these we not available back in 1980.
Like most international students there was a substantial culture shock especially in relation to the density of housing and in general just the sheer volume of people. As I acclimatized to live in the US, I discovered that I needed a car, so off I went and bought a car and went to Jersey City to get my license. It’s good to know that DMV hasn’t changed in 30 years, but I digress. Upon getting my license I thought if I am going to drive here in the US (on the wrong side of the road) I might as well go into the city. My thought process was that if I can get in and out of the city alive then I can go anywhere, so off I went through the Holland tunnel.
Yes, I survived and 30 years later I am still at Rutgers and now after 20 years firmly entrenched in the Cook Campus and Rutgers New Brunswick community. I hope that you make the decision to begin YOUR journey to the US.
