As an international student at Drury University, I’ve been asked various questions during my time in college. There were some questions that arose repeatedly.

When you meet a lot of people, you begin to understand you are going to be asked similar questions more than you expect. This is mainly because international students’ backgrounds are not necessarily familiar to the domestic students, faculty or staff. As an international student, you are not only learning about other students’ geographic background and cultural differences, but are also being asked about your own culture and why you decided to study in the U.S.

Some questions might seem weird, some might be helpful, and some might be opportunities to address stereotypes about the people from your country.

Here are some of the most common questions I have faced in the past three years I have been at Drury, as well as some tips on how to answer them.

[Learn more about studying at a U.S. college.]

1. What was your high school like? Many international students come from schools where the curriculum is different from and more difficult than most high schools in America. Many American students bring up the question of how international students do well in their academics.

In my case, I attended an Indian school in Dubai, meaning that the syllabus was different and, I think, a little more difficult in terms of the subject matter than many U.S. high schools.

Studying was an important practice in high school, and as a sophomore I had to select whether I wanted to pursue a business or a science major. I then began preparing for college in the last two years of high school.

2. What sports did you play as a child? Soccer and cricket were big around where I was raised, but most international students will realize that American football and baseball are two of the biggest sports in America. Be prepared to talk about the popular sports in your country and don’t be afraid to ask about American sports you’re not familiar with.

[Here are five key facts for U.S. students about U.S. academic culture.]

3. Where are you from? There aren’t a whole lot of people who will make assumptions according to your skin color. In my experience in the U.S., I have never had someone come up to me and ask me about my ethnicity. I was born in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, but am of Indian descent.

In my situation, many people asked me where the U.A.E. and Dubai were on the map. Most individuals thought Dubai was in India, but I spent a minute explaining to them where exactly the U.A.E is. You should expect to have to explain where your country and city are in the world to students who may be unfamiliar with foreign geography.

4. What made you decide to come to the States? Every international student has their own reasons for coming to America, and your classmates will likely be curious why you choose to study here. In my scenario, my brother had graduated from Iowa State University, which helped me decide that I would love to join my brother in the U.S. and stay close to him. That is why I chose Drury.

5. Have you been to tallest building in Dubai? It’s common that students will ask about major locations and landmarks in your home country or city. In my case, I was lucky enough to visit the Burj Khalifa, which is in Dubai and the tallest building in the world.

[Learn what international students should know about stereotypes.]

6. Do you eat meat? Your U.S. classmates may be curious about your diet and how it is affected by your culture or religion. I do not eat beef, so I always have friends watching out for me. It definitely helps me, as there might be meals in which there might beef involved in place of pork or any other meat. You should also realize that it’s common for U.S. students to have dietary restrictions, such as being vegetarian or gluten-free.

International students are always asked questions by their peers at U.S. colleges. Be ready to face questions like these and learn to develop good answers. You do not have to go in detail, but just throwing out the basic idea will help your classmates figure out culture norms and help them become global citizens.

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Educate Your Classmates at a U.S. College originally appeared on usnews.com