Being an international student at the University of Idaho means coming to a completely different area of the world, to a culture that may be the opposite of your own with no one who you already know. It means having to balance learning to live in a new culture, possibly learning a new language, making new friends, and keeping up with academic responsibilities as well. A resource for international students at UI called the International Programs Office can help to ease some of these responsibilities and stresses. One of the ways this office works to connect students is through the bi-weekly ‘Global Friday’ event taking place every other Friday from 3:00 to 4:30 p.m. in the International Programs Office.
This Global Friday event is an opportunity for international students to connect and have fun together, sharing and learning about each other’s cultures and making new friends. There is something new and exciting for every session. At the latest Global Friday, attendees carved pumpkins for Halloween. On other occasions, there have been international movie nights and other fun get-togethers.
“My whole goal is to engage international students and create a bond among themselves and with the community,” Farjahan Shawon, the International Programs Office program coordinator and driving force behind Global Friday events, said.
International students can come together to participate in fun activities that connect them with each other, with the diverse cultures at UI, and with the resources available to them at the International Programs Office. The new event center in the Office is free for international students to hang out in or host events with friends in. Global Friday provides an opportunity for these students to learn more about all the cultures in our university community.
“Through Global Friday, what I’m trying to do is trying to introduce international students to the culture of this country, and also showcase their own culture,” Shawon said.
Global Fridays are a phenomenal opportunity for international students but is not the only engagement resource the International Programs Office provides. There are several events throughout the year, one of which is the International Education Week from the 15th to the19th of November. This will be a week full of fun and informational events, such as the international social mixer on Nov. 15, an Education Abroad informational session, and a Thanksgiving meal for international students on Nov. 17.
For international students who are looking to make connections and get involved with the International Programs Office, the Global Friday events are the perfect place to start. They provide a space to meet new people, share your own culture, and learn more about the cultures of other international students. Both international and domestic students can take advantage of the other events provided by the IPO like the International Education Week to learn about the diverse cultures of our campus and make UI a more culturally-educated and tolerant place.
Grace Giger can be reached at [email protected]