Rediet Patterson ’22 is undecided, but interested in double majoring in international business and management and international studies. She may also pursue a 5-year master’s program for international relations. She was born in Ethiopia and moved here when she was 11 after being adopted. Besides the food, what she misses most about Ethiopia is the culture and the friendliness of the people. 

“Ethiopian culture is very different in that we’re very friendly. When you see a person across the street you say hi all the time…people kiss.. we hug… The grandmas, if you go to an Ethiopian house, they will feed you for an hour straight,” she said. Rediet also misses her family, especially her biological aunt who quit high school to raise her.

Rediet can speak Amharic, the official language of Ethiopia. When she came to the United States, Rediet didn’t know how to speak English. People say she learned English quickly because it only took her about a year, but Rediet says “during that year I did not speak. I was mute, because I was observing everything around me… so I was silent and I was taking it all in.” Rediet says the first English word she learned back in Ethiopia was “smooth,” not “hi.”