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US Increasing Scholarships for International Students
“The American Dream is a national ethos of the United States, a set of ideals in which freedom includes the opportunity for prosperity and success, and an upward social mobility for the family and children, achieved through hard work in a society with few barriers.”

This definition, according to Wikipedia, describes the myriad choices between the pathways toward success generated by the opportunistic environment in which Americans are born into unintentionally. International students crave this freedom and strive to penetrate the auspicious atmosphere in their educational pursuit of a more fulfilling life. To accommodate these devoted scholars, colleges are awarding more and more financial aid to help international students overcome monetary hurtles of hovering fees and towering tuition.

USC student Vasudha Goel, originally from India and featured on the International Student Stories page of Education USA, said that studying in the US has given her “access to all these resources and opportunities that you would not get elsewhere.” Benefits of college education in the US usually come at a high cost for international students, requiring out-of-state tuition fees which demand thousands of dollars more than in-state tuition, but some US colleges realize that steep prices deter valuable students in adjacent states and internationally from attending their schools and have adjusted their prices to allow these students to pay in-state tuition costs.

With the Academic and Cultural Sharing Scholarship and GPA standards met, St. Cloud University in Minnesota and Minut State University in North Dakota offer in-state tuition costs for international students. International students applying to Minnesota State at Moorhead and Mankato receive the in-state scholarship automatically upon admission for the first semester, but have to meet certain criteria to keep the scholarship funding. With the same Academic and Cultural Sharing Scholarship, North Dakota State University contributes by covering 50% of the non-resident tuition (a savings of $8,500). Other schools offer specific programs for international student admission, like the teaching assistant program at University of Utah, the Tuition Assistance for Mexican Students scholarship, and student sponsorship opportunities available at The University of Texas at Austin.

The progressive movement towards global understanding and education is underway because US colleges value international student contribution. If you are interested in comparing international student college tuition in the USA, Great Value Colleges has compiled a list of tuition costs and average awarded scholarships called The 50 Great Affordable Colleges for International Students.


Photo Credit: Ryan Tyler Smith

lrngo users in over 190 countries

Young male confident in red cape superhero
Learn to be More Confident and Meet People
A surprising percent of the global public in the technologically advanced world we live in feel deficient in one of the most basic social skills: how to meet people and get to know them, to interact with strangers on a day to day basis.

It sounds simple enough to step out and chat with others while on your way to work and back, while running errands or simply going about your weekly routine. But if you routinely freeze up when you attempt to meet people, whether they are total strangers or new work or social acquaintances with whom you need to develop a relationship, you are not alone.

Stumped about where to start to meet people? LRNGO.com and other online social sites are not the only place.

A great way to begin is to jump out of your box and try to meet people outside of your regular routine. For example, on your next day off vow not to touch your computer, not to stay inside your usual hideaway, instead to go out and chat with others that you run into over the course of your day.

Or, make an effort to chat with others who you do commonly run into, but customarily avoid conversations with: work mates, the delivery person, an assistant at a shop you frequent, the manager of your favorite restaurant, etc. You’ll find many of them are also looking to meet people and you may find yourself meeting a lifelong friend or partner through a simple encounter.

Some find it helpful to take a class or buy a book on being assertive. This can greatly multiply the ways you meet people, even completely change your outlook and in turn your personality, stimulating your boldness to get out and meet people who may in turn significantly enhance your life.


Photo Credit: Chris & Karen Highland

lrngo users in over 190 countries

Early toilet paper from the American Sanitary Plumbing Museum, Worcester MA Essex boudoir paper brom
Who Invented Toilet Paper?
Nobody knows exactly who invented toilet paper, but its existence has been traced back to Chinese dynasties as early as the 6th century A.D. Although the Chinese were known to have paper as early as the 2nd century B.C., there was no mention of it being used as toilet paper until much later. A scholar in 589 A.D. wrote that he would not use paper with the works of Confucianism or the names of any sages written on them as toilet paper.

Many other cultures invented toilet paper and came up with other workable substitutes. The Romans were known to use sponges attached to sticks. These were kept in containers of salt water. The Greeks used clay pieces and stones. In many Middle Eastern and Asian cultures, the left hand was always used when wiping after defecating. This is why the left hand has become known as the unclean hand, and should not usually be used in these countries to shake hands with people or touch people.

An American named Joseph C. Gayetty of New York was the man who invented toilet paper in the basic form we know it today. In 1857 he produced a packaged flat toilet paper that was medicated with aloe. His name and brand was on every single sheet. Later, in the 1880s, the perforated toilet paper that comes on a roll was produced and distributed. The Albany Perforated Wrapping Paper Company and the Scott Paper Company are thought to be among the earliest manufacturers to produce toilet paper in the form most common today.

Be glad that you live in the modern era – it wasn't until 1935 that completely 'splinter-free' toilet paper was available. Up until then, you ran a slight risk of some damage every time you used it. There was no use blaming the people who invented toilet paper, though – would you want to use any of the alternatives? In 1942, two-ply toilet paper was introduced and things began to get even more comfortable down there. Toilet paper innovations have continued, with stronger and softer papers being created. Toilet tissue in the developed world has been designed to decompose in the sewage system, so it does not clog anything while still being strong enough to use.

Today, toilet paper has become almost an art form for some people. The people who invented toilet paper might be shocked to see some of the designs being used for novelty toilet paper today. Many of these are made to shock or amuse the user, such as toilet paper printed with barbed wire, sandpaper, or cactus skin. Other people get toilet paper printed with the names of their favorite (or least favorite) sports teams on them. Political toilet paper is always popular as well – depending on who the president is at a given time, the opposing political party can get toilet tissue emblazoned with the face of the commander in chief.

Well, now you know who invented toilet paper. What will you do with your new knowledge? Will you inform a friend? Invest in some quality bathroom products? You'll probably just flush it down the drain.


Photo Credit: Casey Bisson

lrngo users in over 190 countries

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