My uncle’s wife and her two kids visited from France for a couple of weeks this past August.

It was the first time the kids had ever been to the United States.

During their stay, I noticed what my cousins talked about most were things many of us take for granted, having grown up here. Like free refills. And grilled cheese. And the liberty of assuming 96 percent of the people around you speak your language.

But now imagine, on top of navigating another country, having to also maintain a GPA.

Out of about 20,000 students who attend the University, 515 of them are from other countries. (That doesn’t look like many, all things considered, but it still outnumbers my entire high school.)

International students arrive from as many as 90 different countries, and they stay for as long as a semester up to the rest of their lives.

Many speak English, and many don’t. Most still have trouble reading American social cues. More don’t have cars. But they’re here for the same reason everyone else is — to gain an education.

And just like all the new freshmen and transfer students, the international students, too, have to acclimate to Bowling Green. Unlike everyone else, though, many also have to adjust to the United States.

I chose international students as the first In Focus topic so more students could learn some of the difficulties of moving across the world and attending a school in another country.

And though many international students might return home in a semester or two, for as long as they’re here, they’re part of our community and University. And they probably have some great stories.

So take a moment to step outside of your comfort zone and say hello to your classmate from a different corner of the world.