Everywhere I go, I try to speak Russian. The reasons for the discrepancy between Russian and Ethiopian students' experiences are many-including vastly different cultural legacies. Israeli Ethiopian students, members of a community numbering about 70,000, come from a more traditional society that valued family and community more than technical education. The few students who have succeeded seem to know that. Both Mulugeta and Assefa spend some of their free time helping their siblings with their homework.
Money is another factor.
With so many impoverished Ethiopians, families are unable to contribute to their children's living expenses at university. Russian Israelis hail from a society known for its skilled scientists and engineers. Discrimination is another factor, says Assefa, who has worked part-time at one of Intel's semiconductor facilities in Israel for the past few years. Both sets of immigrants must acclimate to another language and culture and the Technion, like other schools in Israel, has instituted a number of policies to help them. Immigrant are allowed to delay their military services until after they earn their degrees.