International friendships receive boost from ISS program
Davy, last year a freshman from China and participant in Purdue's International Friendship program, displays his haul from his first Easter egg hunt. The family of Susan Tharp, an Extension field educator at Purdue, was his host. Tharp says Davy really got into the egg hunt when he discovered that it included candy. (Photo provided)
A friendship that offers fun, learning and a new kind of connection is an excellent thing, and when that friendship is very easy to form and keep, that might be a relationship found through Purdue's International Friendship program.
Susan Tharp, a Purdue Extension field educator in Frankfort, says she and her family have enjoyed the friendship they started a year ago with "Davy," a Chinese freshman in engineering. When he returns to Purdue late this week, they will get together.
"He got to see a smaller town away from campus," she says. They took him to a church dinner and a sports event, sharing him with other town residents. An interest in seeing non-academic American life is almost universal among international students who sign up for the program.
"A lot of times it's the student's only glimpse into a family home," Tharp says. Some host families make a point of sharing holiday activities. Her family was able to share Easter dinner and an egg hunt with Davy.
The program, organized by the Office of International Students and Scholars, connects individuals, couples, and families at Purdue or in the area with one or more international students. The program's design promotes fun, learning and cultural understanding without heavy obligations.
Tharp says her family has participated in a program in which an international student lives with the American family, but Purdue's program fosters good experiences with less ongoing work.
"We're able to share with each other but we don't have the responsibility that we have if they live with us," she says. They also visited the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art in Indianapolis, exposing Davy to a part of American culture and history he knew nothing about. For his part, Davy brought the excitement about many new things, including his involvement in Theta Tau, the student organization that stages the Rube Goldberg machine competitions. All of this happened with flexibility and ease. And they stayed in touch a bit over the summer via Facebook.
Hosts are encouraged to share activities with their students about once a month throughout the students' time at Purdue, says Marcus Hammack, immigration counselor in ISS. Most hosts invite their students to dinner at home, on a picnic or to an interesting place or event in the area.
The program's basis and helpful tips will be presented in a required orientation to be conducted three times this week at the West Lafayette Public Library, 208 W. Columbia St. Persons interested in being hosts should choose one of these times:
* Wednesday, Aug. 18: 6-7 p.m.
* Thursday, Aug. 19: 6-7 p.m.
* Saturday, Aug. 21: 10:30-11:30 a.m.
In recent weeks, more than 1,000 new international students have been arriving at Purdue, Hammack says. Many are eager to learn about American customs and life, often holidays in particular.
Hosts undertake no legal, financial or housing obligations, Hammack says. They simply gain a friend and a glimpse of another culture and perspective.
For more information, attend one of the information sessions above, call Hammack at 49-67528, or e-mail friendship@purdue.edu. Information is also at www.iss.purdue.edu/Programs/IFP/.
