Many students complain about the distance from their off-campus housing to the classroom, but for one student, the 7,000-mile journey to becoming a Razorback was not a complaint, but the opportunity of a lifetime.

Sonia Sadaf, an undergraduate business student from Lahore, Pakistan, came to the UA in August for a semester-long study abroad opportunity to learn more about the American culture. Growing up in a small village, and then later moving to Lahore to attend Punjab College, Sadaf said she had no idea that she would have an opportunity to take her studies to another country.

“I came to the United States in August through a program in Pakistan called the United States Educational Foundation of Pakistan, which is an program that allows undergraduate students to come to America for a semester and learn how Americans live and study,” Sadaf said. “I had previously applied for the program but was not selected, so when I got the opportunity to come this year I was very excited.”

After waiting through the six-month application period and taking numerous tests, Sadaf was finally selected to participate in the study abroad program. Sporting a 3.93 GPA and receiving scholarships throughout college, Sadaf arrived in Washington, D.C., just a few weeks before classes began. “We spent the first four days of our trip in an orientation, learning how we would manage here and what we should do and expect,” she said

Just a few days after arriving in a new country, Sadaf made her way to her new home in Fayetteville.

Though Sadaf takes business classes that count for college credit in Pakistan, “the program is more of a cultural exchange program,” she said. “Along with the studies, the students have to do a lot of activities to learn about the American culture.”

Sadaf was paired with a “friendship family,” which makes the transition into American life a little easier and gives the students an American family with whom to connect.

“I was lucky to get a great friendship family. I really consider them my American parents and they consider me their Pakistani daughter,” Sadaf said. “We cook together, travel together, and I take part in their family activities. My friendship mother is a very good painter, so I am learning how to paint while I am here also.”

While Sadaf takes part in their holiday celebrations like family birthdays, she also received a University mentor and a great deal of help through her new home at Holcombe Hall.

“My program had some requirements along with the friendship family, like taking part in a mentor program and the cultural passport activity. All of the students received a passport when we got here, and get stamps for taking part in American cultural activities,” Sadaf said.

The students in her program are only required to have six stamps, but Sadaf already has 60 stamps.

“It was such a great motivation to take part in the daily American life, and it really inspired me to become integrated in American culture, so I am thankful for that,” she said.

While enjoying the cultural aspects of the trip, Sadaf’s UA classes count towards her February 2012 graduation back home. Though she got into all of the classes she needed for both business and required American studies courses, Sadaf had issues enrolling in classes at the start of the semester.

“It was a bit difficult in the first two weeks of being here, because I wasn’t getting into the courses I wanted. It was so hard, because I had to take specific classes to graduate on time when I got back, or I would have to wait another six months until graduation at home,” she said.

After overcoming academic issues and the culture shock of living in a different country, Sadaf settled quickly and made many new friends in her classes and dorm room, she said.

“In the first two weeks, it was so different that I didn’t like being here. After being here for a few weeks, though, I adjusted to the change and love being here now,” Sadaf said. “Holcombe is the perfect place for international students – I have made so many new friends which has been so good for me.”

The main thing she misses from home? The community.

“In Pakistan, your family is the center of the household. We do everything together, and my friendship family here does a lot of things alone. Everybody is separated here, and in Pakistan you don’t see students studying or living on their own,” Sadaf said.

Though Sadaf’s family was extremely excited to hear the news of her opportunity, Sadaf didn’t tell her parents at first that she was applying for the study program.

“I thought I would give my father a surprise, and I didn’t think that he would deny me the opportunity if I had already done all of the work and been accepted, ready to go. When I found out that I had been selected, I told my family and they were so happy for me. They really appreciated that I had done all of the work and I am so happy that they let me come to study here,” she said.

“Being selected really inspired me to come and just do it,” Sadaf said. “I had been a good student in Pakistan, but I wanted to gain some global experience and live out of the box.”

Though Sadaf wishes to visit and study in other countries in the future, she “wanted to come to American because of the many different people.”

“It’s not just about Americans here,” she said. “It’s such a diverse place and people are here from around the world.”

As her first time abroad, Sadaf described the trip as “as great cultural experience,” and has plans to return one day.

“I’ve never stayed far from home, but during my time here I have found that most Americans are such courteous people,” she said. “They will stop doing what they are doing to help you with anything you need, which is so nice.”

After she returns to Pakistan in just a few weeks, Sadaf plans to travel much more in the upcoming years, she said.

“I wish to complete more education abroad, because I know that I need more time to learn more. It was such a good experience for me culturally, but as far as studies are concerned I need more time,” she said.

“I want to learn from more developed countries and then in the future implement what I learned back home in Pakistan. I am just so happy that I was given this opportunity, and now I finally get to live my dream.”