This book by Fr. Edison Fernandes takes the reader on a journey of crossing cultures and crisscrossing lives of nine international students who studied in the Philippines.  It is a new world from a stranger’s eyes, ears, and heart, in which he/she encounters people who may unexpectedly turn out to be friends, defenders, or critics, or even enemies. The book explores the concept of discrimination as felt and lived by international students and identifies the various manifestations or elements of this deemed discrimination.  

The author explores this experience of discrimination from a vantage point of having been an international student himself, careful to keep his research distanced from the topic, but with a willingness to unearth deep feelings and attitudes. Through phenomenological research, he uncovers six major themes that he explains in detail in this interesting and absorbing book, and to which many readers will be able to identify with as part of their collection of memories and experiences of encounters with peoples and cultures different from their own.

                                          Dr. Barbara Wong-Fernandez, Registered Guidance Counselor
                                 Professorial Lecturer and Retired University Administrator, Philippines

                                                                  Contents

Acknowledgements
Introduction

1. The Problem and A Review of Related Literature
2. Method
3. Results and Discussion
4. Summary, Conclusions, and Recommendations

References
Appendixes

Edison Fernandes, SDB is a Catholic priest belonging to the Religious Order of the Salesians of Don Bosco. He is currently based at Don Bosco Animation Centre, Benaulim, Goa (India) as Rector and Programme Director. He obtained a Master’s Degree in Philosophy from Jnana Deepa (Pune) in 1990 and a PhD in Counselling Psychology (Major in Clinical Counselling) from the De La Salle University (Manila-Philippines) in 2007. His doctoral dissertation entitled “A Phenomenological Exploration of Discrimination as Perceived by International Students: Implications for Counselling Psychology” was awarded the gold medal for outstanding dissertation. He is visiting lecturer and holds the Chair of Psychology of Education at Divyadaan: Salesian Institute of Philosophy, Nashik. Besides pastoral work and teaching, he also offers seminars, counselling, psychological assessment, group therapy, spiritual direction, workshops and retreats for religious leaders, teachers, youth, school students and the laity. He conducts workshops, therapy and seminars at various institutes in India and abroad.