we take for granted many aspects of living in california, but what does this look like to a visitor from a far different culture. >> differences. >> the impressions of visiting professors from afghanistan on this edition. >> we're exploring new issues new week. >> welcome to san jose state university and this edition of equal time. i'm your host bob ruckers. we've had two groups of afghan

journalism professionals visiting. we've asked the latest group of professionals to prepare a report on their impressions on the cultural difference that is they have found here. >> i have noticed technology in the classrooms here at the university. it's much different in afghanistan. >> there is a teleconference. technology tools are very helpful. >> have all my textbooks on

there, so i don't have to carry textbooks in my bag. ed i think -- and i think it's easier. >> laptops, smart boards and monitors in the classroom but at afghanistan university the students don't have access to advance technology like the united states. >> the smart boards make it easy for teachers to teach. they clan touch something rather than try to explain it and show everything. it's a very streamline, very efficient form of learning. >> if you get a professor that's technology based, it makes it a lot easier. >> some technology experts say

-- it's no long are the center of information. >> i think the technology in the classroom is a useful tool. there is a lot to be gained from face-to-face interactions that is sometimes lost through technology. >> the students can reap the benefits. >> i have noticed that --

>> students learn how to become a professional dancer. this is one of the kind of dances. after, they might not be able to support themselves through dancing. >> i was a dancer and a professor. we have to deal with the idea that we might have to have a second or third job to pay our repetitive or pay bills, but i think sense we love our artform so much -- >> a dance major means i will not be financially stable, really. i'm going to have to be a dancer and have a side job.

>> i want to cover important issues of the student from san jose and compare this with the students in afghanistan. >> here at san jose state university, some of the students are concerned about the future. >> probably the worst major because i am unemployed a lot because i want to be a performer. i have a friend who has a masters and graduated top honors and she still doesn't have a job. >> over the past year we have

served over 1,000 students and i want to say about 40% of them were unemployed for some pot am theme during that -- point in time during that year. >> there are a lot of job opportunities. they can look online and opportunities through marketing and try to accommodate their need. >> in afghanistan, the employment outlook for a student is even worse. in afghanistan there are hardly opportunities for students to get a job. on campus --

>> it's much more relaxed in the united states. plus, here they shake hands, but in afghanistan, there is no contact between the sexes. >> to look at an authority, it shows disrespect. it takes awhile to get used to that in this culture. >> what do afghans think we're doing about the environment? >> and how do they perceive the problems our students face.

those and more when equal time returns. welcome back. the professors vesting -- visiting san jose from afghanistan have been observing how we live. they are taking back to afghanistan a definite impression. >> i am from afghanistan reporting from san jose university about global warming.

it affects all of us. one part of the solution is to protect the trees. the world is facing this problem, threatening the livestock. all people must take part. the students play an active role in the university. >> the faculty themselves help the campus become a greener place. we also have student groups who are working to promote same

ability. >> so -- >> public transportation, biking and walking will save you money. our program is designed to save you money. i encourage them to take advantage of it to save money. by doing that they will be saving the environment. >> transportation fash -- officials -- >> i am mohammed and i have noticed deferences in student problems at san jose university

and afghanistan. here at san jose students are faced with more problems during the university education. some students say tuition is high and they do not have any financial support. >> i'm a graw. saving money is tough for me. i don't have a whole lot of time to work and make money, so borrow from familied trying to work side jobs. >> it's difficult to get classes. a lot of kids want the same classes, so they fill up quickly and tuition is a lot. it's increasing yearly, which has been hard for my family. it's been tough to keep up with that. >> he is aware of student problems, including financial

aid. the university is -- >> more importantly, a large number of our students have opportunities for financial aid. 40% of our students get all of their tuition fees covered if you look at the federal, state. >> in afghanistan students also face financial problems, but they need top find work to support themselves and their family. there's a lack of classrooms, space and technology. libraries are really busy compared to what you have here. >> i have noticed the problems women face are different. here in the united states compared it afghanistan where i

live who basically, if communities -- >> here i par test pay the in a discussion at the san jose estate university. the women have more freedom than in afghanistan, but even so, some of them face inequality. >> we have to work. in afghanistan, woman are faced with difficulties in life -- violence, sexual abuse, limited access to education, healthcare and employment. in addition, most women are ill

literal. woman want quality and to end gender inequality. >> when we come back, equal time will continue. welcome back. on this edition we have some very special guests.

let's meet them now. >> i'm head of the university at afghanistan. >> i'm from afghanistan. >> i am from afghanistan. >> my name is maria and from afghanistan. >> thank you all for being here. we welcome you to the bay area. one of the things that's interesting, we'll finally get answers about the people of the afghanistan. if there was something you wanted to tell the people in this area about afghanistan, what would you tell them. >> afghanistan culture is over

5,000 years. there are traditional issues if society. the culture is very, very different than afghanistan culture. afghanistan is an islamic country. i can just imagine culture in the united states. >> before we come to the united states -- when we come, we see different things, different culture, different communication. it was amazing for us. i think this is very different.

>> i think we have -- one is the gem culture. we have a different culture. there's a culture that belongs to that state. so we also have differents -- differences, about the holidays, about the food. >> talk about gender issues. we know in your community, in your nation, women and men have

responsibilities, but sometimes they're different than in the united states. how are women different from women in the united states? >> afghan woman in my country, is different culture and different but afghan woman in afghanistan -- yeah. >> they have opportunities to advance. >> we come here and i saw a deference between one woman and united states woman. afghan woman observes the islamic culture all the time. they cover their hair. here there are different

dresses. also, it's different from afghanistan because they have different communication and also, all of the woman during the day they work in the society, all of the woman but in afghanistan you have some problem, opportunity problem and traditional problem. steams they don't like the woman to go out the home and they work sometimes. unfortunately, this is a big problem, but now we are going to do things every day and all of the woman work. this is a group, but we are appreciated. >> i think the opportunity for the woman in afghanistan and the

men is not equal. it's a different society, don't allow the woman to participate in society. unfortunately, the education, political pirks women in afghanistan have limit'ses -- limitation. unfortunately, for some traditional issues in society, some limitations, but in the united states we see will's opportunity and educational opportunity is equal. >> problem of education and

problem of freedom. this is a problem and woman's life in afghanistan is different. for example, in the united states the women can leave individually. we can't leave individually. before marriage, after marriage and every part of our country, we couldn't leave alone. we have to leave with our family. so it's a big difference. we have to share everything. >> another significant point, the woman can go to society and

they work. this is a beg problem in our country, not only for the woman but to all of the people living in afghanistan. they live in bad situation and this is a bad point for all of the people living in afghanistan because without the economy, but we have this problem. this is a big problem, i think. >> it's improving, but i think it's improving for the woman. we have good future for the afghan woman, yes. they came here for an education. >> the two women are dressed

very much like we're dressed. yet, you're wearing something on your head, and you're not. let's talk about that. >> it belongs to a person but in the islamic culture we have to cover, but we have a traditional dress in islam culture and afghanistan culture, dresses am islam. but nowadays every person, globalization, it belongs to the person what they wear. for example, this is my bracelet i wear at the university.

they are similar to the western bracelets. >> you're dressed without a veil today or something on your led. is that comfortable for you? are you allowed to do that at home? >> no. >> you don't have to? >> no, no problem. outside from home, this is my clothes. >> i lps want to talk about entertain -- also want to talk about entertainment, the freedom to have fun. can you have entertainment or are their security concerns in the process. >> it's important in our society. we have a lot of hobbies in our country on some official days and sunday is a holiday.

my weekend is on friday because this is islamic culture. all of the islamic culture and society have only one day off. this is friday. on friday we all go to pray, official pray. after that day they go to parties. they go to picnics by their families, by their friends, by their relationships. ed i -- and i go to classes during the day after friday. >> i think our entertainment is amazing in afghanistan. the weekend, friday, most people go to picnics out of the city

they enjoy together, but, unfortunately, the security concern about afghanistan, people can't go and enjoy together. now people can did and enjoy a picnic together. it's the tradition of afghan people. they have parties. they have dance music, but it depends. this entertainment is limited to the woman. they can't go out of their homes during the night.

>> like palow. it's a symbol of leaving, a symbol of happy here. >> very good. >> the food in afghanistan is different. some people -- this is different food and different traditional because when we want our food, this is different and people living in kabul and other place -- >> you're very proud of your country. and you're look forward to going home. thank you for being here.

we realize the challenges away from your family and we hope you learned something today. we'll see you next time for another edition of equal time.

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