Savannah State University

International Student Organization

President: Audrey Allen

Vice President: Sabrina Williams

Mission Statement: The purpose of this orgnization is to heighten cultural awareness on our campus and fasten a new realization and appreciation of other cultures.

Programs

Coffee House

Cultural Happenings

International Festival

Host Family

Savannah State Universtiy has an International student population of 105 students representing 21 countries. Our International students come to the United States for a variety of reasons, the primary one being to further their education. They represent some of the highest educated people in their home countries and many of them will become future world leaders.

Most international students stay in the United States for a limited time period. While class room responsibilities require much of their time and most of their energy, they do want to learn about American culture. Our Host Family program can be a positive exprience for all involved. The relationship that develops between students and their host families helps expand the cultural awareness and aooreciation for how others live and develop their world point of veiw. Relationships can also grow into life-long lasting friendships.

The Host Family Committee recruits families and assigns students each quarter. A potluck dinner is scheduled each quarter to facilitate the first meeting between families and students and to give the other families and students a chance to interact with each other.

Developing a Relationship With a Student

It is important to get in touch with your newly assigned student and arrange to meet with him/her either before the Host Family dinner or at the dinner. Before meeting with him/her, try becoming familiar with his/her country, such as: size and location, form of government, the capital or major religions and holidays. Your student will also serve as a major informational source. Be prepared to answer questions about the United States, its history, government and societal trends. Also, your student will probably want to know about your family customs and traditions.

At the first meeting with him/her, find out what name he/she like to go by, their interests, hobbies, classes at school. Also, ask about his/her family and life back home. Inquire about his/her parents, brothers and sisters, relatives, pets and friends. Somtimes talking about their home country can help ease the transition into their "adopted" country.

Meal Time

Sharing a meal is a wonderful way for people to get acquainted. Different countries and cultures have different ways of serving and eating meals. Here are a few suggestions to help ensure mealtimes are a pleasant experience.

Keeping in Touch

Many students experience homesickness and a simple card, phone call or brief not can let them know that you are thinking of them and care about them. When inviting your student join your family activities, be sure to follow up a written invitation with a phone call to make sure that your students understands the event. Also, students become very busy with their studies and they need to know that they are not obligated to accept every invitation, especially if they need to work on a paper or study for a test. There are a variety of events and activities in the Savannah area that your student might be interested in attending. These include:

Savannah State University Concerts and special events
Sporting events
Wormsole Historic Site
Old Fort Jackson
City Market
Fishing
Savannah Science Museum
First African Babtist Church
King-Tisdell Foundation

You may also want to include your students in your own special family events, such as: birthdays, holidays, weddings or graduations. Some families also invite their students to attend church with them. It is especially important to let students know that they can decline the invitationif they are not comfortable attending religious services other than their own. Also, proselytizing is not acceptable and it is hoped that hosts students will respect each other's religious differences and beliefs.

Knowing the Limits

Host families are not financially responsible for their student, nor is it expected that their student will live with them. The Comprehensive Counseling Center's Host Family Program is responsible for assisting students in the area of employment limitations and endorsement, immigration and visa issues, academic concerns and financial matters. Host families may at their option, help students locate medical services, apartments or other services in Savannah that they might need.

Thank you for your interest and support of the Host Family progaram. If you have any questions, comments or concerns, please feel free to contact Ayo Akorede at the Comprehensive Counseling Center. If the assignment is not satisfactory, the student seems no longer interested or you are unable to contact the student, contact the Comprehensive Counseling Center so you may be assigned another student. There is always a need for Host Families.

The Host Family Committee can always use volunteers to help assign new students to families and to help with the quarterly Potluck Dinner. If interested, please contact the Comprehensive Counseling Center.

Ayo Akorede, Coordinator
Comprehensive Counseling Center
Host Family Program
P.O. Box 20376
Savannah, GA 31404
(912)356-2202

SPONSORED BY THE DIVISION OF STUDENT AFFAIRS
Copyright © 1998 Savannah State University All Rights Reserved.
Last updated October, 1998
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