Igor Vuckovic, business finance sophomore, moved from Belgrade, Serbia, to attend IU Southeast in January 2009.

“I came here to experience new culture, to meet new people,” Vuckovic said.

He lives with his sister, Lana, who moved here in 2000. Vuckovic said his degree will give him many opportunities for work in the future.

“I would like to work in a big city like New York City or Chicago,” he said.

He said he has experience traveling to foreign countries.

Throughout high school, Vuckovic played in various tennis tournaments thoughout Europe.

Staying in hotels or renting rooms in houses, he and his friends from Serbia traveled to compete in Paris, Rome, Milan, London, Frankfurt and other cities.

Along with playing tennis, Vuckovic said he enjoyed sightseeing and exploring the cities’ culture while he was there competing.

Vuckovic received a partial scholarship to play for the IUS Tennis Team last year.

Unfortunately, he said he has not been able to rejoin the team this season due to a back injury during winter break. However, he said he hopes to return to the team in the spring.

Vuckovic has had a positive experience attending IU Southeast. He said the students and professors have been friendly, and he has met a lot of new people.

Vuckovic said he laughed at his previous view of people in the U.S.

“My stereotype was big fat Americans and their big fat cars,” he said. “Now I see people here as willing to help and respectful to other countries.”

Vuckovic said he feels going to school in the U.S. was the right decision.

“I think an IU degree is respectable worldwide,” he said. “IUS has a top business finance degree in the U.S.”

He said the reason he wanted to go to school in the U.S. was because universities in Serbia are more restrictive.

Vuckovic said school is much harder in Serbia, and, in order for him to receive a degree within four to five years, he would not be able to have a job or play sports.

“I wouldn’t have enough time,” he said.

Vuckovic said professors in Serbia expect more from their students.

For example, students only receive one exam per semester, and it is their job to take notes and prepare for the exam.

He said the economy is worse in Serbia than it is here in the U.S.

“That’s why college is so hard [in Serbia],” he said. “They are selecting people for the jobs.

“We are given more free time in the U.S.,” Vuckovic said. “There are a lot more internships and opportunities for students while in college in the U.S.”

He said Serbian students are on their own to get a job.

Vuckovic said he enjoys attending school in the U.S. because it gives him more job experience, more time to work and have a social life.

Along with attending IU Southeast for business finance, he works for IUS Dining and Conference Services. He caters for special events and works in the Food Court.

Vuckovic said he is grateful for the opportunity to work while attending school.

Although the U.S. offers more time for a social experience while in college, Vuckovic said he feels there are more things to do in Belgrade. Vuckovic said it was the city of nightlife.

“You can get into night clubs and drink at 18,” he said. “I would recommend students to go to Serbia. They would have good fun over there.”

He said in the U.S., people usually socialize indoors or have parties in their homes.

By BRITTANY POWELL

Staff

bripowel@umail.iu.edu