Home Sickness
To cope effectively with home sickness, first realize that you are not alone; it happens to everyone. Every intercultural student experiences a range of emotions upon arrival in the U.S. Talk with other students about your feelings or if applicable your coach. If you experience feelings of despair and dislocation that last more than a few weeks, contact Counseling Services to schedule an appointment with a counselor. The staff members are trained to help students cope with a variety of problems, and adjustment to Hobbs, NM is one of them. Their services are free and confidential. Do not hesitate to call them and please know that it doesn’t mean you are “weird” or “failing,” it’s normal and healthy to talk through challenges.
We understand that in many cultures people only talk to mental health counselors when they face emergencies, but in the U.S., it’s widely understood almost anyone can benefit from them.
Thunderbird Health Center
Thunderbird Health Center is operated by Nor-Lea Hospital District and serves NMJC students suffering from minor illnesses, minor wounds and minor injuries. Examples of what can be treated at Thunderbird Health Center:
Most Commonly Treat
- Sprains
- Cold & Flu Symptoms
- Ear Infections
- Sore Throats
- Nausea, Vomiting & Diarrhea
- Urinary Tract Infections
- Cuts & Lacerations
Services Provide
- Initial Broken Bone Assessments (Not including face, skull & pelvis)
- Foreign Body Assessments (i.e. eye, ear, skin)
- Abscess Incisions & Drainage
All visits to the clinic are at no charge to the patient. Should you need other services such as labs and imaging there will be some fees associate with these services.
Location: Caster Annex
Hours of Operation: Monday - Friday 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Main Number: (575) 492 - 4888
Campus Safety
Major crimes are rare on campus at NMJC and we have 24/7 Campus Safety officers patrolling campus to keep us safe. Be smart and lock your bedroom door when you leave your room and keep valuables in a safe spot. Don’t walk around town or workout at night by yourself. Always keep your passport and other documents in a safe place. You may report an incident at: Incident Report.
Cleaning
Standards of cleanliness vary from culture to culture. NMJC Custodial will clean the lobby areas and public bathrooms, but you are expected to clean your room and bathroom regularly. Residence Life will do room inspections on a regular bases and fines will be assessed if your room and bathroom are not clean.
Emergency Notification
NMJC has partnered with an Emergency Notification provider to provide an emergency alert system capable of delivering messages to your NMJC email account, personal email account, your land line and cell phone. We have enrolled you in the program at no expense to you. Make sure your phone number and address are always up to date in the Registrar’s office.
Hygiene
Compared to some of the world, the U.S. may seem obsessed with cleanliness. Television commercials for soap, perfume, cologne, deodorant, antiperspirant, toothpaste, mouthwash, breath mints, etc., are shown very frequently, and this is an accurate indication of what individuals are expected to do with and to their bodies. People in the U.S. believe it is important to control the smells a body naturally produces.
Bad breath and natural body odor are considered quite offensive in the U.S., but the topic of these odors is so offensive that most people from the U.S. will not tell another person he or she has bad breath or body odor. You do not have to cover yourself with perfumes and chew gum constantly; a shower and deodorant each day and good dental care is acceptable hygiene.
Laundry
Some Americans often wash their clothes after one wearing, while in other countries this is not common. There are free washing machines and dryers in each residence hall and on 2nd floor of the apartments and you should expect to launder your clothes, sheets and towels regularly.
Weather
Hobbs, NM weather in the summer is frequently over 100 degrees. On these days stay out of the sun for long periods of time, wear sunscreen, and find shade when possible if you have to be outside. The winters here also get rather cold. Make sure to wear winter clothing that protect your extremities so you do not get frostbite.
