Family:
Describe your family’s structure.
My family consists of 5 members. : Me, My lil bro( 18), My lil Sis (15), and my mom and dad. 
Do you have any family ties in the US?
No, I do not have any family ties in the US. Maybe some distant relatives, but no first cousins that I know of.
How much contact is there between you and home?
I keep in touch with my family through email on a regular basis - sometimes 2 in a day back and forth. I do call them once in awhile if I really feel like it. It is expensive though so I do it when I miss em enough to wanna talk to em and hear their voice. I chat a lot online with them too on MSN
What professions are your parents involved in?
My father works in IBM as a stock manager. My mother is a retired elementary school teacher.
Have relationships with your family/friends changed since coming to America?*
As far as my family goes, I have always been very close to all of them and I still am. I love them very much. Nothing could change the way I feel about them. Coming to America has not affected that part of me and my feelings for them in any way. If anything, my love for them has grown even stronger with the distance between us. As far as friends back home go, I have to say that I'm not in touch with them on such a regular basis. But we do have our occasional emails between us. I miss them all too.

Geography:
Where are you from?
Im originally from India, but I have spent all of my life in Saudi Arabia as my dad got a job up there a long time ago. In India, Im from the city: Hyderabad. In Saudi, I live in the city named Dhahran.
What is the climate around your home?
In Saudi, the weather is mostly sunny and hot around the year. It does get cold during the winters but my definition of cold has changed since I've been to MN. Now the winters in Saudi almost feel like the end of Falls here: cold but nothign unbearable.
Are there structural differences between home and the US? (i.e. architecture, landscape, etc.)
Saudi Arabia has a lot of desert regions. When you are in the cities, you cant really tell that you are living in a place that was once all a desert. Because of all the buildings, greenery, trees, it is just like a major city in the States in terms of buildings, ,greenery, artificial lakes and so on. But when you are on the highways between cities and towns, like you would see farmlands here in the US, thats when you will get to see the beautiful desert landscapes there in the US.
How do you plan to adapt to the new climate?
I believe I have already gotten used to it and I like it a lot. I've seen enough heat to last me a lifetime. Snow was something like out of a movie for me. Its something I had never seen before. I still love it. I would have to say that I dont really like it too much when it gets toooo cold. Dont get me wrong though: I LOVVVE the summers! But I enjoy the winters as well!
Describe your hometown.
My hometown is a big city named Dhahran. Much like any other big city, Dhahran is known for its various number of shopping malls, the arabian sea (beach), and the beautiful roads. It is a very pleasant city to live in. I love it!
Culture:

What specialty foods come from your country?
India: rice, tea.
Is it easier to form relationships with American students or other students of your culture?*
I find American students very friendly and easy to talk to. They're in general great people!  Needless to say: almost all my friends here are American.
What religion if any do you follow?*
Islam.
What are your hobbies?
Movies, Music, Pool, Any thing outdoors, travelling, Ping Pong, Cricket, Watching Husky Hockey games, Partying, Meeting new people. 
Favorites and dislikes about US culture.
Favorites: very friendly, lot of freedom.
Dislikes: Cant really think of any right now off the top of my head.
Are there differences between US food and your home cookin’?
Yes. Foods back home are spicy and have gravy in a lot of dishes.
International Differences:
How long have you studied English?
All my life.
What languages do you understand/ use regularly.
English, Urdu and Hindi. Also Arabic: but I can only read and write it...I can understand it to a very small extent.
Why did you decide to come to the US?
The American Degree is recognised all over the world and will help me stand out as a candidate for a job back home. America is known for its education system.
Would you consider the US as a permanent residence? Why or why not?
I dont know where I will be in the future. I want to make money and whereever I get paid more is where I will be in the future.
Education:
What is your major?
Computer Science. Minor in Finance.
What is the education system like at home, name Pros/Cons?
Pros: you learn a lot of languages, a lot of theoretical stuff,  
Cons: it is very difficult, not too much of interactive stuff done in school(like stressing on powerpoint presentations and stuffl ike that): its mostly theoretical. There should be more stress of practical part of education.
How much does it cost to study abroad in the US, and how are you financing it?*
My father is paying for it. I pay in-state tuition after having completing 45 hours of volunteer work every semester.
Are their many restraints on International Students (IS)?
We cant work off campus.
What prior education (post-secondary) did you have before coming here?
Got done with high school and came here.