I was not allowed to work outside the school. And I was not provided with very much information regarding my rights, as well as the opportunities available to me. I felt isolated, ill-informed, and at the mercy of the powers that be. I know many people who feel the same way. Being in a vulnerable position makes us easy targets for exploitation.
Many international students teach three to four classes in order to survive.
They work for the university at very low wages. All this at the cost of their own academic work. It has taken me seven years to get my Master's degree instead of three. It doesn't have to be this way. Most of my friends are forced to take the low-option Temple health insurance plan that is mandatory for international students.