Qing Xu Oral History

Coming from China to America as a dependent to her husband who was a PhD student at the University of Iowa, Qing Xu spoke little English. To learn she took English classes at the Coralville Public Library and Kirkwood Community College for a couple of years. Her English skills improved to the point where she is now a successful graduate student at the University of Iowa in both library science and music composition. When I asked Qing if Coralville felt like home to her, she told me stories of the friendships she has formed here. From friends helping her move, to friends bringing fruits and vegetables from their garden, she happily asked “If that’s not home, what’s home?” Qing’s story offers just one of the many ways international students that live in Coralville find and create homes for themselves in the Coralville community.

Jin Chang

Qing Xu

Coralville Public Library