How can you make a difference in the lives of the future leaders of the next generation?
Other ideas that could be implemented
A weekly or monthly women's program coordinator
- Many international student wives come with their husbands, and have time to visit and make friendships. Some would like someone to practice speaking English.
Supper club coordinator
- Organize families to have 1-4 students over to their house, once a month, to eat, visit and grow a friendship.
Business leader workshop coordinator
- Organize students to listen to American businessmen/businesswomen to hear monthly or quarterly talks. Find Americans to host tables, and look for opportunities for students to visit local businesses of interest.
- Take students shopping
- Pick up students from the airport
- Help students find furniture
- Repair bicycles for students
- Find bicycles for students
- Take bicycles to students
- Be a friendship partner to one student, or an apartment with your student and his/her roommates
- Help with temporary housing while a student finds an apartment
Other ideas that could be implemented
A weekly or monthly women's program coordinator
- Many international student wives come with their husbands, and have time to visit and make friendships. Some would like someone to practice speaking English.
Supper club coordinator
- Organize families to have 1-4 students over to their house, once a month, to eat, visit and grow a friendship.
Business leader workshop coordinator
- Organize students to listen to American businessmen/businesswomen to hear monthly or quarterly talks. Find Americans to host tables, and look for opportunities for students to visit local businesses of interest.
How can I change the world by getting to know an international student?
A story from a former Friendship Partner:
Did you know that most international students who come to the US won’t enter one American home? I’ll never forget hearing the story of someone who came from a Middle Eastern country with a suitcase full of gifts to give to anyone who invited him over. He went home with the suitcase still full. The thought of so many men and women coming to our country and not encountering a friendly smile, a welcoming home, a hot meal—that is one of the things that caused me to begin friendships among International students through ISI while I was a college student in Florida.
The students I met were excited to get to know Americans, eager to learn our culture, and wanting to enter into life here, but they faced many hurdles. Have you ever lived in another country where you didn’t know the language? How do you find the post office? How do you order a meal? Is there a grocery store within biking distance? The simplest aspects of life take energy and courage to understand and master.
Time with future world leaders can be simpler and easier than you would think: driving with a woman from China working to earn her driver's license, learning to make traditional rice with a woman from India, participating in an Indian festival with new friends, meeting up with a student on campus after a class for a couple hours to chat and share dinner. It doesn’t take much to form warm friendships among these welcoming and generous people, and you’ll often find that YOU are the one who is encouraged.
Simona G.
A story from a former Friendship Partner:
Did you know that most international students who come to the US won’t enter one American home? I’ll never forget hearing the story of someone who came from a Middle Eastern country with a suitcase full of gifts to give to anyone who invited him over. He went home with the suitcase still full. The thought of so many men and women coming to our country and not encountering a friendly smile, a welcoming home, a hot meal—that is one of the things that caused me to begin friendships among International students through ISI while I was a college student in Florida.
The students I met were excited to get to know Americans, eager to learn our culture, and wanting to enter into life here, but they faced many hurdles. Have you ever lived in another country where you didn’t know the language? How do you find the post office? How do you order a meal? Is there a grocery store within biking distance? The simplest aspects of life take energy and courage to understand and master.
Time with future world leaders can be simpler and easier than you would think: driving with a woman from China working to earn her driver's license, learning to make traditional rice with a woman from India, participating in an Indian festival with new friends, meeting up with a student on campus after a class for a couple hours to chat and share dinner. It doesn’t take much to form warm friendships among these welcoming and generous people, and you’ll often find that YOU are the one who is encouraged.
Simona G.