International Students in Times of Corona in the United States

A Duoethnography of Foreignness

Authors

  • Wu Xie
  • Musbah Shaheen

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has become a representation of different countries and cultures. In the U.S., it seemed to assert American elitism and white supremacy. The “go back to your country” trope became rampant, and Asians in the U.S. scrambled to ensure their health and safety both from the virus and from the social response it unleashed. Higher education was profoundly affected by COVID-19 and associated challenges. This volume has likely addressed the educational, financial, and political ramifications of COVID-19 on higher education. However, missing from the conversation are stories representing experiences of internationals. This chapter is a duoethnography about foreignness, demonstrating how COVID-19 in the U.S. perpetuated a postcolonial ideology that impacts the experiences of those deemed foreign by western standards. We use our lived experiences and narrative to illustrate how COVID-19 did not create this sense of foreignness, but intensified its presence and effects.

How to cite:

Xie, W., & Shaheen, M. (2022). International students in times of corona in the United States: A duoethnography of foreignness. In J. S. McKeown, K. Bista, & R. Y. Chan (Eds.), Global higher education during COVID-19: Policy, society, and technology (pp. 167-183). STAR Scholars. https://starscholars.org/product/global-education/

Author Biographies

  • Wu Xie

    Wu Xie is a second-year Ph.D. student in the Higher Education and Student Affairs program at Ohio State. She currently serves as a graduate research associate at the Quantitative Methodology Center within the College of Education and Human Ecology. Wu’s research interests include internationalization of higher education, organizational behavior and theory in higher education, and STEM education, with a personal penchant for both qualitative methods and quantitative methods. Regarding internationalization, her ongoing scholarship gives attention to international students amid a changing sociopolitical and geopolitical climate. Wu received two M.S. degrees in Electrical Engineering from Nanjing Tech University and The University of Nottingham before working as an electrical engineer. Following that, she completed an M.Ed. in College Student Services Administration from Oregon State University. Email: xie.1089@osu.edu

  • Musbah Shaheen

    Musbah Shaheen is a Ph.D. candidate in Higher Education and Student Affairs at The Ohio State University. He is a research associate for the College Impact Laboratory (CoIL) in the College of Education and Human Ecology. Musbah has a B.A. from Vanderbilt University and an M.Ed. in Higher Education and Student Affairs from the University of Vermont. Email: shaheen.59@osu.edu

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Published

2021-09-19

Issue

Section

COVID-19 and Global Higher Education (Completed)

How to Cite

International Students in Times of Corona in the United States: A Duoethnography of Foreignness. (2021). Comparative & International Education Series, 167-183. https://ojed.org/cies/article/view/2815