"I have been here for four weeks and I am so lonely that I am seriously thinking of returning home. "

"If only I had met someone in the early weeks of my stay in this country, of whom I could have asked questions about even such simple things as how the cafeteria operates, public transportation and social customs which were so completely new to me, my whole experience would have been different from the nightmare it was."

These are typical statements by international students which reflect their need and desire for friends, particularly at the very beginning of their time in America. Because this time is so crucial for our friends from overseas, it is imperative that we lay plans in advance to help them during these early days, when they so keenly feel the strangeness of our land. If we wait until fall to lay such plans, the time of greatest need is past before we are able to get into operation.

Some of the following suggestions, if thoughtfully and prayerfully followed well in advance, even in the spring, can be the means of a solid and much appreciated program for international students arriving in the fall.

First of all, try to ascertain what program the university has for its incoming foreign students. Often there is a program already in existence and the directors are crying for volunteers. Inter-Varsity chapter members or church volunteers can render valuable service to the university and to the international students as well as make valuable contacts by volunteering to help in these programs.

Some Inter-Varsity groups have arranged a tour of the city and campus during the first week before school begins. Such an orientation trip has proven to be valuable. A reception or outing, or some other program of inherent interest to the international students themselves can be a means of establishing a very helpful contact.

In preparing for friendship with international students it would be well, over the summer, to become acquainted with world affairs so that you may be reasonably literate. Thus you will later avoid stupid questions when talking to your friends from overseas.

Above all the objective of any program should be the establishment of real, personal friendship with one or two individuals who you will see repeatedly through the year. International students are unanimous in saying that they are not interested in impersonal group functions where there is no possibility of seeing the same people again. On the other hand the thing they want most, according to their own statements, is just one real friend among American students or families.

By laying careful plans for the fall before the academic year ends this spring, your group can avoid that "too little" and "too late" feeling which comes about the middle of October when plans have been let slide until fall.

Copyright Information:
Reprinted from HIS Magazine, June 1956 issue.