Ohio State University freshman Nirosha Dhanaraj never smiled at strangers in India, her homeland.

But five months after arriving in the United States, she "officially" broke that habit yesterday in front of about 250 new Buckeyes during an orientation session for international students.

The daylong gathering was designed to help the students adapt to American culture.

"This is crazy," said freshman Karen Ellingsen, 20, of Norway, before rushing off to a class on how to date.

"Everything is happening so fast. I'm just glad Americans don't speak quite as fast as they do in (the TV show) Gilmore Girls, like I was expecting."

Ohio State expects 3,800 foreign students this school year.

Counselor Bong Joo Hwang told the students not to be offended when people say, "Hi. How are you?" and then continue walking. And not to be surprised if they see some friends only two or three times a quarter. "It's not that they don't like you. People are just very busy here," he said.

A mock classroom prepared them for what Hwang called "American manners."

One student walked into the class late as he was text messaging. Another answered a cell-phone call about The Simpsons Movie, speaking over the teacher. A third student started eating a sub, and another popped his gum.

Dhanaraj, 18, shook her head.

"Everything about this country is different," she said. "But it's exciting and just like I thought it would be."

She said she prepared for the trip by watching TV shows such as Friends, which Dhanaraj said seems to "match American culture perfectly."

Freshman Aamer Alshehhi, 19, learned how to dress from the Jackie Chan-Chris Tucker movie Rush Hour.

In the United Arab Emirates, he wore a white robe.

His new attire: sandals, jeans and a button-down shirt with his sunglasses hanging from the collar.

Hwang, who moved from South Korea to Ohio nine years ago, told the students they will likely go through four adjustment stages: honeymoon, hostility, humor and (feels like) home. But some will never adjust, he said.

Source: http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2007/09/14/adjust.ART0_ART_09-14-07_B5_VL7T8R3.html?sid=101