There has been a student on the rise to TikTok stardom here at SDSU.
Freshman international student Pasindu Perera has been documenting his time at SDSU on TikTok. Pasindu is from Sri Lanka, a country in South Asia, majoring in hospitality management and administration. Collegian Media got the chance this past week to sit down and talk with him.
Q: What made you want to come to SDSU?
A: Honestly, one of the biggest reasons is that when I was applying for study abroad, I applied to other universities. I wanted to do hospitality management, it was coupled with a business major. But here, at SDSU, they have given me the opportunity to fully major in it. And they also gave me a partial scholarship as well. So that’s like a big deciding factor.
Q: How long have you been in South Dakota?
A: Since the school year started, two months. I came in September.
Q: How has (South Dakota) treated you so far?
A: Really nice. It’s amazing. The people are really kind here. Like, they are offering to help me since I don’t have a car. People are offering to help me get groceries and stuff. Even the professors are really helpful. The American education is different. They help with office hours and stuff. Adjusting to the culture here is awesome.
Q: Are there any fond memories that you have made so far, and if so, can you tell us a couple of them?
A: I guess the two major ones would be Hobo Day (and the) NDSU game. The game was crazy. The fans were shouting and everything. And the Hobo Day parade was amazing because it was my first time seeing it. In Sri Lanka, we don’t have parades. So, seeing how everything was organized and the community – it was nice.
Q: Your daily vlogs about life at SDSU have been blowing up on TikTok. What made you want to create these?
A: So initially, it’s a blessing to come to the US and have an education. I’m here for four years for my undergraduate degree and it’s going to go really fast. So, I just want to keep a digital diary for myself. Initially, I didn’t even tell my parents about it. I just wanted to keep the memories. I didn’t expect it to blow up and stuff, but that was the main reason. But it has opened up many doors. It’s amazing.
Q: Since you’ve been posting on TikTok, a lot of companies and places in Brookings have been reaching out to you. What event or sponsorship has meant the most to you since you’ve been on this TikTok journey?
A: I think Cubby’s was one of the major videos that I did. After doing that video, I got invited to be on the big screen at the game as well. So that was a big one. And yeah, a lot of major restaurants are the ones that invited me like I have an upcoming one with George’s Pizza as well. So that was really fun.
Q: What has been your favorite place to visit so far?
A: Favorite would be, I still haven’t posted it, but I had the opportunity to go to the Farmhouse Fraternity. It was a special thing, like going and seeing what a fraternity would look like.
Q: How has TikTok changed your student experience here?
A: I think it’s familiarized (me) with the culture. Being an international student, it’s really scary to come to a country that’s thousands of miles away. But after creating TikTok’s, people have offered so much help. Even when I post videos saying that it’s cold, people are giving tips that, “You should buy these kinds of puffer jackets.” “You should buy snowshoes,” and stuff like that. So yeah, that guidance has really helped me adjust to the culture.
Q: In the city of Bookings, what are the top five favorite things for you?
A: As I say, number one would be the people. I really love it. The food is amazing and there are a lot of places that I really want to go. I saw there was a golf course as well, so I really want to try that. I also saw a bowling alley. Yeah, I think the restaurants and entertainment places are my favorite. I know there’s always something here that you can do. So, I think that’s also something that I really love.
Q: We just had our first snow in South Dakota and you posted a video saying that you really loved it. What was it like for you personally to see it for the first time?
A: I would describe it as magical. For me, winter was something that I have only seen in movies. Feeling the snow in my hands is pretty amazing. After creating the video, I immediately showed my parents. They were amazed as well. It’s hard to explain. Like getting to experience it firsthand, coming from a tropical country and seeing snow is different.
Q: If you could describe South Dakota in three words, what would it be?
A: Welcoming, kind and super fun.
Watch the Q & A on this week’s Collegian Report on Friday, Nov. 14. Every newscast can be found on the @SDSUCollegianMedia YouTube channel.
