August 10, 2005

Purdue, community to give international students taste of Americana

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. – More than 200 new international graduate students will cap their Purdue orientation with a country picnic and barn dance on Friday (Aug. 12) at the living history 1920s farmstead at the Museum at Prophetstown State Park.

The picnic begins shortly after 5 p.m. with a barbecue chicken meal provided by Faith Baptist Church and served by its members. Square dance lessons and calling begin at 6:30 p.m. Other activities include horse-drawn trolley rides through the prairie.

"The goal is to quickly acclimate the students to a new culture in a relaxed, fun fashion," said Purdue immigration counselor Nancy Montague. "Introducing the students to this community's agricultural heritage is a wonderful way to do so."

The day will begin with a field trip to the Wal-Mart Supercenter in West Lafayette that includes a breakfast and gift card courtesy of Wal-Mart to purchase student supplies.

The leisure activities follow a day of seminars on Thursday (Aug. 11) covering topics such as insurance, banking, legal rights and responsibilities, immigration, employment, and registering and paying for classes.

The Prophetstown Picnic and Barn Dance is the largest off-campus welcoming meal ever offered by the Purdue Office of International Students and Scholars. The picnic, co-sponsored by the Purdue Graduate School, Express Air Coach airport shuttle and MobileSphere calling cards, is one of three picnics staged by local churches.

International Student and Scholars director Michael Brzezinski said it is important for the Purdue and local communities to make international students feel welcome.

"Most international students speak English very well but have never, nor ever will, step inside an American home," Brzezinski said. "They have only second-hand knowledge of American culture."

Brzezinski has been busy this summer recruiting volunteers for the International Friendship program that matches students with local individuals and families. Throughout the year the student and family will interact in activities ranging from dinner to outings.

"The friendship that your family extends not only alleviates the student's loneliness, but also secures him or her in new surroundings and contributes to a successful academic career," Brzezinski said. "Their impressions of our culture can be the most enduring and rewarding thing students take back home to their country."

For more information about becoming a Friendship Partner, call (765) 494-5770.

Writer: Jim Schenke, (765) 494-6262, jschenke@purdue.edu

Sources: Nancy Montague (765) 496-2306, nancym@purdue.edu

Michael Brzezinski (765) 494-7084, mbrzezinski@purdue.edu

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu

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