GEOFFREY KHAMINWA: I think the main thing that struck me

about the U.S. is the opportunities that exist, just

within education alone-- forget

everything outside of that.

It's very interesting that the liberal arts format which they

have here provides a lot of opportunity.

You don't have to rush into any career, or you don't have

to study anything from the word go-- you get a chance to

sit back, and take in a lot of different things before you

make your final choice.

I think that was the main attraction, because I wasn't

too sure on what I wanted to do as soon

as I finished school.

I think mainly the opportunities which exist in

America-- if I was to shorten my decision-- it's a place

where you can make a name for yourself.

After studying here, you can go anywhere in the world, and

do whatever you want to do.

I think the credibility of U.S. schools would help me

throughout that, so you've got to ask yourself what you want

to do with that education.

Then you have to apply to the places which would best

provide you with whatever you need.

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I think the thought process of-- not necessarily doing

anything practical-- the thought process started two

years before I finished high school, which was 2007.

I started thinking about where in the world I wanted to

study, and what kind of things I wanted to do.

I actually got advice from a family member, that I should

look into the U.S. I went to the education center, and they

advised me that it was a little bit too early to start

looking into things two years in advance-- I think one year

ahead is probably a wise decision.

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The first thing I did-- because I didn't know where to

look-- is I went to my educational adviser in

Zimbabwe, and she told me to look on collegeboard.com.

I went to College Board, I typed in a lot of stuff, and

it gave me a lot of answers, but they weren't the answers I

wanted, unfortunately.

I ended up getting a book, and going through it the old way,

and flipping through every page.

I knew I wanted to be on the East Coast-- that

was the main thing.

That's the first point, to decide where in the U.S. you

want to be, because there's so many schools to choose from

that you can't just say-- oh, I want to be anywhere.

Once I narrowed that down, I researched the schools, and

saw what they had to offer.

I also looked at the services that they provide-- like, some

schools are slow in responding to emails, and the ones which

are quick are the ones which drew me in.

I think the education center in Zimbabwe provides a lot of

statistical data on students who pass through the center

and get to the U.S. I think they collaborate with other

satellite stations around the world.

They gave me a list of all the colleges in the U.S. which

provided financial aid to students, and how much they

did in the average which they provide for from the years to

2006 to 2008-- so that was really good, and it helped me

cross off certain schools which I knew probably wouldn't

provide any assistance.

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I can say Rebecca Mano from Zimbabwe-- she was my

education adviser, and Mr. Muchenje as well, in Zimbabwe.

They helped me a lot-- they were there to give any advice,

and it was a lot easier than trying of look on the website,

for instance.

That human contact really helped, and I think they know

their job really well.

You can go with almost any question, and they're able to

answer it-- if they don't know the answer,

they find it for you.

I think that's what made it really easy.

After that, I have an older sister who did a master's

degree here in the U.S., so she knew a lot about the

process, and she was able to tell me what to do.

I think it's important to choose a place where you think

you're going to be happy, because going to college is

more than just going to college-- you have to live,

and you have to consider what life on campus is going to be

like, and possibly the weather conditions.

I know at the moment that it's really cold, so I'm not happy

with that, but it's not the biggest factor.

There are lots of things-- what is society

in that area like?

What are the things that they enjoy?

Do they enjoy sports, or do they enjoy politics?

You have to try to research the city, and see what they're

into as well, to narrow down your decision.

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There are a lot of requirement, and they seem to

be really tedious, but I think when you get here, when it's

all said and done, you will realize why

they do those things.

They don't just do them to make life tough for you-- in

fact, I know a lot of schools may ask for different essays,

and they have different extra forms. Those things are there

for a reason, so the best advice I could give is

probably organization.

As long as you're organized, and you work at it diligently,

you'll get what you want.

You can have the best recommendations in the world,

and you can have so many things, but many other

students can also have those things.

The thing that can set you apart is the essay.

Even though it's really short, it was something that I

thought over for days on end-- it was really stressful, and

it wore me down mentally.

I asked a lot of people questions, I got help from

family members-- they helped me on the essay in terms of

advice, and I would say that's probably the most important

part of the application.

It can make or break it.

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I think the visa process is easy, but I say that with a

smile on my face.

It can be long, and it can be very short-- it just depends

on how your things are.

If your things are in order, it's not a difficult process

or a long process, but if they're not, it can be

extended to longer than you would want.

The education center provided a lot of documentation, and I

actually attended a talk.

They explained to us everything that we would need

to take to the visa interview, why we should take those

things, the kinds of questions they ask, how you should

present yourself, the kinds of things you should say, the

kinds of things you shouldn't say, and I think

that was very helpful.

I was nervous when I woke up in the morning, but when I was

sitting there, I saw a couple of people go before me.

I saw what was involved, and then I calmed down.

When I got my visa, a big weight was

taken off of my shoulders.

There were a lot of things I didn't have

to think about anymore.

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I can say on the very first day when I arrived, and I was

putting my coat up, a lady walked up to me, and she asked

me my name.

I said, I'm Geoffrey.

And she said, oh, Geoffrey, it's nice to see you-- I

remember your emails.

And then, I can't remember who was standing next to her-- her

name was Christina-- and she said to me, oh, I remember

your emails.

She told her friend, this guy has been through a long

process, and I think from the word go-- because of that-- I

felt at home.

I really din't know what to expect, and a lot of people

think it's very lonely at the beginning, and that kind of

thing, when someone knows you, even though they don't know

you, it really makes you feel at home.

Everybody's really helpful.

They they're ready to jump up and run around for you for the

smallest thing, so I felt very much at home.

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I think the way I'll answer it is not really what I didn't

find, but it's more what I've found.

A lot of people think that the U.S. is going to be like the

movies, and that kind of thing.

When you get here, it's surprising that it isn't--

these are just everyday people just like you and me, and they

go about their daily lives almost in the same way that

you do back home.

I think the thing that struck me the most is the fact that

there's more of the basic things-- that's the thing that

struck me, and it really made me feel at home.

It was just the basic things, like running water is always

there, and electricity is always there-- as long as you

pay your bills-- but those things, they are there.

Food is there, and I think that was the

most comforting thing.

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