By SARAH BROACH

Staff Writer

In passing, she seems just like any other Tech student.

Aparna Koduru, a graduate student of mechanical engineering, lives in a dorm, goes to class and works on the 10th floor of Prescott Memorial Library.

But in February 2002, Koduru came to Tech, not from Shreveport, Baton Rouge or even New Orleans, but from Kakinada -- a city in southeastern India.

"I was looking for a good engineering school, and Tech was one of the three schools I applied to," Koduru said.

Koduru received her undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering at Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, in the state of Andhra Pradesh in India. Koduru's home city of Kakinada is also in Andhra Pradesh.

Koduru said an immediately noticeable difference between cultures in India and the United States is that people are not allowed to date in India.

"It depends on the parents, if they're more liberal with that, they will allow it," Koduru said.

"But especially where I come from in South India, it's not allowed."

Koduru said the reason for restrictions on dating is that arranged marriages are still practiced in India, and the choice is left to the parents.

"Normally these days, people get married at 22 or 23."

Koduru is 25.

"There are no plans for me to get married until I find a job," Koduru said. "My parents say a career is more important than anything else."

Koduru said the freedom in the United States is one of the best things about being here.

"Life here is so comfortable, and people are so friendly and straightforward," Koduru said.

"You have the freedom to do what you want, and you don't have to worry about what you eat, what you wear or where you go."

Some things Koduru said she does miss are the vegetables and spices from India that cannot be found in Ruston.

"We could make Indian dishes if we had all the vegetables and spices here, but we don't," Koduru said.

"I miss Indian food so much. In India, if you have a full-course meal, you're not hungry for a long time. Here, it seems like people will eat a meal and then 30 minutes later, say 'Oh, I'm starving.'"

Koduru also said it is different to be around people who think she is so different.

"A lot of students here think [Indian students] can't speak English, but it's because we don't use [English] in daily practice," Koduru said.

"We speak in our language [to other Indian students]."

Koduru said the national language in India is Hindi, but each Indian state has its own language.

Although there may be a few differences in culture, Koduru said she has found that there really is not that much difference in the way anyone thinks, no matter where they are from.

"I have American roommates, and the way I think and the way they think is just the same.

"You think different geographically, but everyone has the same feelings," Koduru said.

"The representation is just different."