Foreword

I was born in a foreign country and immigrated to the United States as an international student in my 20s. When I first arrived in the U.S., I knew nothing about how American society worked. At that time, most of my knowledge came from English-language textbooks, Hollywood movies, and articles from student forums. The longer I lived in America, the more I learned, and I tried to make the most of every opportunity. However, there was one thing I couldn’t get back—time. In my early years in the States, I lost valuable time simply because I didn’t have access to essential knowledge. I keep thinking that if I had known certain things earlier, I would undoubtedly have had a better life and improved financial stability in my new country.