Series: Navigating Aggieland as an International

Dear readers,

This blog series is meant for anyone new to Aggieland – be it from outside the U.S. or outside of the great state of Texas. I will attempt to help you navigate this land from my tiny lens while I share my perspective, my challenges, my joys, and my sorrows doing the same. This is in no way an exhaustive resource blog; for that, we have many official channels on the TAMU website. This here is my journey through this great school and land we call Aggieland.

I look forward to reading your comments on the school page and your suggestions for future topics or aspects of Aggie experiences I might miss. Thank you for reading. Y’all are legends!

Gig ‘em!  
Many landmarks in Aggieland attract Aggies: Kyle Field, 12^th Man Statue, Bonfire Memorial, Sbisa Dining Hall, Military Walk, MSC, Academic Building, etc. The list goes on. Unlike these well-known and beloved landmarks, there is one gentle behemoth that stands in the guard of Aggieland with the most supportive words, “WELCOME TO AGGIELAND.” Asbury Water Tower (AshT) has given me a sense of peace and calm ever since my first day on campus. It made me realize that I have a friend here who’s always there to welcome me and thousands of my fellow Aggies without judgment or expectations.

When I reached College Station to pursue my dream, I had traveled 9,450 miles to a land I had never to been before. Excitement admixed disquiet is nothing new to me since I’ve previously studied and lived in Ireland and have traveled extensively across Europe. But the U.S. is unlike any other place. The process for international students – from applying for a program to crossing immigration at the airport – is a long and arduous one, fraught with unique challenges at each step. And even when you have reached your school, other challenges await you, such as navigating across this gorgeous but huge campus, locating resources, and lastly, making friends. In the core of it all lies a sense of community, a sense of belonging; “Do I belong here?” “How will I fit in?” “Are there people with whom I can click?” In such a state of vulnerability, even a kind smile, a soft-spoken welcome, or a fist bump can ease those nerves and give one the energy to keep calm and carry on. I was lucky to have befriended a fellow international student on my way to the campus, and we ensured to support each other. But, whenever I faced setbacks, all I had to do is take a walk to the tree-lined Tauber Street to see ol’ AshT standing proud, reminding me that setbacks are a part of life and tomorrow will be a new day.

Amidst the Covid-19 pandemic, TAMU and OGAPS…oops! I mean Graduate and Professional School, did a commendable job with the orientation to help familiarize everyone with the school. Be it the networking event with fellow students or breakout sessions of our interests, we were provided with multiple opportunities to get to know Aggieland better. Further, Howdy Week provided a great chance to interact with various departments and their representatives.


Now, it is up to us to help each other. During my short time here so far, I have realized one thing: being an Aggie is an honor, and it comes with responsibilities. Lending a hand to those in need is an Aggie value. I have made sure to support my fellow Aggies to the best of my abilities, and I know y’all are doing the same. Give and get all the support you can. Every Aggie you see is a beacon of light.

As for me, I still walk across Asbury Street every week, sometimes to get to the restaurants on University Drive, or at times to meet my friends who live across campus. But every time I do, I tip my imaginary cowboy hat in gratitude to my friend, good ol’ AshT as it keeps its stoic watch over Aggieland.

So, dear readers, next time you see AshT, don’t forget to tip your hat.

And to my friend, thank you for the welcome.

– Gogoal Falia

Gogoal is a first-year Ph.D. student in the School of Public Health.