Volunteers sought to serve as international ‘friends’

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A group of Northwest international students raise a flag during Homecoming
ceremonies on the Joyce and Harvey White International Plaza. More than 200
students from other nations are currently enrolled at the University.

For international students at Northwest Missouri State University making the big adjustment to a new school in a new country can be a challenging and sometimes lonely experience.

Transforming that experience with fun, fellowship and maybe the occasional home-cooked meal is the goal of Friends of International Students, which is currently seeking volunteers from across the Maryville area willing to help young people from other countries feel at home.

The organization pairs international students with families and individuals who agree to offer information, assistance, hospitality and friendship.

Anyone interested in assisting international students during the spring trimester needs to sign up by 5 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 22. Simply e-mail fis@nwmissouri.edu.

or call Ann Lech at 660.562.1958 (ext. 1958 on campus).

Once enrolled in the program, friends are expected to have some kind of contact with their student at least once a month and to attend a small number of group events.

Lech, who teaches English as a second language at Northwest, founded Friends of International Students five years ago. She noted that FIS is a community-based organization, and that members don't have to belong to the Northwest faculty or staff. In fact, she is seeking members living throughout Nodaway County.

"Many of these students feel a lot of loneliness," Lech said. "They're also often just unfamiliar with how things work. If they can pick up the phone and call someone about a question they have or ask for advice, that's a very important link."

When you're living in a new culture and learning a new language, normally simple situations often seem complicated, Lech said. Students can have trouble with everything from getting their garbage picked up to dealing with official-sounding credit card advertisements.

Student response to the program has been both positive and heartwarming, Lech said. "It's usually the little things, a ride to Wal-Mart, going to a Bearcats game, even just visiting someone's home can be very special.”

For more information, please contact:

Anthony Brown,
News Bureau Manager
E-Mail: abrown@nwmissouri.edu
Phone: 660.562.1704
Fax: 660.562.1900

Northwest Missouri State University
219 Administration Building,
800 University Drive
Maryville, MO 64468

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