Having an 8 am class back in Malaysia hardly means 8 am. It almost always means 8.30 am or later. Being late for classes has always been a norm back at home for students, even myself. Although I know it is wrong and disrespectful to the class, it is an almost impossible task lifting those heavy eyelids and body off the bed. Punctionality has not been much of a big deal back for Malaysian students -- for most of them at least. Having said that, it shocked me when I arrived and learnt that UWEC students are always early for classes. They would be in by at least two minutes before the classes start. Here in America, punctuality is taken ever so seriously. I can proudly say that for this whole week, I have not entered a class late. I would certainly hope that this habit will be part of my practice even when I return to my home country.
Putting aside the differences between Malaysian students and UWEC students, we are all in fact quite similar. Our main purpose of attending university is to learn more, be it education or even social learnings. Students in UWEC do not take things lightly as from what I have seen. They'd would always finish up their homework and class partcipation was overwhelming. Back in Malaysia, students in classes would be highly active in learning as well. Well, other than being a disturbance in class, we too do give knowledgable feedbacks to lecturers. This makes the whole process of learning fun and is present in both Eau Claire and Malaysia and perhaps everywhere else too.
