Dear Editor,

Imagine having to wake up two hours before class just to get to school on time; not very pleasant, right?

Well, that is the kind of discomfort that countless international students face each morning in order to get to the DVC campus.

Currently, many international students have no choice but to be placed in homes through the Diablo Valley Homestay (DVH).

They are not only having a hard time coming to school because of inconvenient public transportation system, but it is also costing them a large amount of money.

I believe that some changes are necessary in order to improve the educational experience of the students.

First of all, DVC should consider making a free shuttle bus system for students that will take them from DVC to the Concord Bart station, at least in the morning.

Many students who are coming school by bus have to transfer buses at the Concord BART station.

If they miss a bus, or if there is a delay in the bus schedule, students have to wait more than 30 minutes.

On an important day, such as a presentation or a test, the time that students lose could be fatal to their grade.

Secondly, the DVH should change their contracts.

Instead of forcing students to stay at their assigned homestay for at least two months, the students should have the choice to move to another house if they feel that their home is too far.

The school should also make sure that the students will have a way to commute to school easily.

~ Jungmin Lee

DVC Student