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Stories and Snapshots: Sharing Experiences from the Program 2023/2024

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Stories and Snapshots: Sharing Experiences from the Program 2023/2024

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"For the international friendship program, I was put together with a woman named Sarah; for our first meeting, I met her and her daughter on Dutch bros here at the OSU campus, and it was such a nice talk; we walked around campus and shared our family history, and we got to know each other. After that, I was invited to a family dinner where I had the chance to meet her whole family, four children and husband. They cooked a delicious meal, and after that, we played some board games. They made me feel welcome in their home, and it was very special to meet her children. I come from a small family, and seeing the dynamics of a larger family was fascinating, it was a great experience" - Maria

"I am very happy to be a part of our International Friendship Program." - Serap

"I am happy to have been connected with the community members through the conversation partnership program. I have been in touch with my conversation partner. We have spent time together on three occasions so far. The first time was our first meeting and we took a walk around OSU campus. The second time we met for coffee and the third time I was invited to join her company with friends for hiking. So far, it's been a very helpful friendship. My partner has edited one of the chapters in the book that I am writing.

On another interesting note: My partner did not attend the International Friendship celebration Day. Interestingly, I met someone whose partner did not attend as well and we became friends. We have been chatting since then and I have been to her place of work. Last time she invited me to go check out a "book sale" by the Library and we had great fun browsing books together.

I also met a couple (wife and husband) at the International Friendship celebration day, who invited me to their Wednesday evening gatherings - for games and chatting. I have been to their Wednesday evening gathering and participated in games and chatting twice now. I appreciate the International Friendship program very much because I am now able to interact and get to know my community members well. I am sorry I have not taken any pictures to share with you." - David

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Join the International Friendship Program 2024/2025!

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Join the International Friendship Program 2024/2025!

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Apply by November 4th to be part of the International Friendship Program, where you'll connect with students from around the world through events, activities, and more. Don't miss out on this opportunity to build global friendships!

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Digital flyer of the International Friendship Program

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Stories and Snapshots: Sharing Experiences from the Program 2023/2024

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Stories and Snapshots: Sharing Experiences from the Program 2023/2024

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"I would like to express my gratitude to the organizers of the International Friendship Program. My conversation partner, a retired professor, has been a great help to me in terms of engaging with the culture and people of the US. Not only that, but he has also shared his experiences and given me valuable advice on how to become a better graduate student. I feel incredibly fortunate to have such a wonderful friend who has helped me to connect more deeply with the world around me." - Servan

"I think this is such a great program for both community members and international students." - IFP Partner

"It has been a please to participate in the IFP.  I have loved getting to know David a bit.  We first took a walk around campus, then we had a coffee, and he also joined some friends and I for a hike in the MacDonald-Dunn Forest.

I also read and commented on a chapter of the book he’s working on. I hope to spend more time with him next week." - Tara

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IFP participants were eating out together at a restaurant

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On June 1, we held a Global Connection Celebration
to appreciate all the volunteers and participants this year for the four conversation partner programs. It was so much fun to chat and play games with you all. Thank you so much for coming!

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Participants of all four conversation partner programs were taking picture together in the lobby of ILLC building

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"I've participated in the program three times. My first twopartners have returned to their home countries, but I stay intouch with both. I am so glad to have a new partner this year. Iget so much out of engaging with each partner, learning abouttheir world views, seeing my country and culture through theireyes, etc. I love to try to think of things I can show them orshare with them that they might not come across on their ownas visitors to this area. I have traveled a lot and have receivedamazing hospitality all over the world. Having the chance to bethe one to offer hospitality is very gratifying."
- IFP partner

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“This program is so amazing! I was only recently matched with my partner, but I’m so excited to get to know her. We have similar backgrounds and interests even though we grew up across the globe from one another. I feel more connected with the Corvallis community and feel like this program is a great way of building connections between all of the amazing cultural groups living in the area.”- CMLC partner

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“... We have had a great time with our person and their roommate. We love the program.”- IFP partner

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An introduction to the International Friendship Program

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An introduction to the International Friendship Program

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"I have learned so much about the culture here, made a great friend and it has helped me gain new perspectives. We don't meet very often but have a great time when we do. So thank you very much for hosting the program."
- Rajesh

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Use your smart phone camera application to view the code, and navigate to the IFP Website!

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"Our initial partner in this program, a woman with whom we interacted for over two years while she was in Corvallis, is now a “forever” friend. We have a son with family in Thailand. When visiting them this past January, we met up with her and her family. Her brother was getting married and we met her extended family for lunch a few days prior to the wedding. We email and WhatsApp routinely to keep up with life."
- Russ

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"It’s an excellent, effective program for promoting international friendship and understanding other cultures! Making personal contact with our international friends and visitors to Corvallis and our campus has been fulfilling and very enjoyable. Keep up the great work!!"
- Stanford Lee. OSU’80

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IFP participants were on a hiking trip together

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"Since the first of this year (2022) we have enjoyed time with our students from Legos, Nigeria. We’ve had very interesting conversations, and meals together and have gone to OSU symphony together. We’re about to arrange a short bike riding excursion together. We respect how busy he is with his graduate-level studies but aim to see each other about once a month."
- Mary and Dennis

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"I got a lot out of connecting with my "international friend", a visiting scholar from Romania.  I loved the opportunity to connect with someone from another country and another discipline.  We usually took walks or met for tea but he also got to visit with my extended family on their rural property on the Oregon coast.  I liked getting to "show off" some of the unique things about Oregon while also seeing and hearing about the world from a perspective different than my own.  Great conversations ranging from parenting to religion to language to science! Thanks for this program!"
- Raven

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"I was part of the International Friendship Program. It was a good experience, I was able to meet with my partner and she was really kind to me. I enjoyed a lot talking to her and I know that we will be able to meet again in the future... I really appreciate having the opportunity to meet her... I will be recommending this program to future students too."
- Juan

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"My experience meeting and talking with Vanessa was heart-warming and informative. We enjoyed getting to know each other. I profited from getting to know someone from Mexico and learning about her Ph.D. work, and she gained some English experience and an everyday friend in the US. Three cheers for personal relationships across borders!"
-Nancy

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"Since volunteering with OSU International Programs, we’ve sat and drunk a lot of tea and coffee with our conversation partners. We’ve learned how to prepare many new and delicious recipes, and my husband and I have made many new friends. We’ve invited them over for holiday parties, played games until 2 AM on New Year’s Eve, biked to Philomath for lunch, and took road trips to Crater Lake, Seattle, and camping in Central Oregon. We’ve cheered at graduations, and we even hosted a lockdown Zoom wedding in our backyard. They fill our lives with much love and laughter! We had so much fun with our international friends. They have really enriched our lives."
- Linda and Art Louie

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A group of IFP participants taking pictures in front of the China town in Seattle

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IFP participants were having a pot luck dinner together at a house

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"Since I am in the COVID high-risk group, we are meeting only by Zoom. It is amazing how much fun it is to get to know a person with whom I have almost nothing in common. I am learning about a new place, a new culture, and a life I could not have imagined without Chang opening this door to me each week. It is especially significant that such a relationship can be built in the midst of our mutual social isolation."
- Laura

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A hand-drawn card with smiling face and a thank-you message written inside

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"It was a pleasant experience to meet so many people and so many cultures in one place. I felt very supported by each of the groups and they made my stay very comfortable and enjoyable. Keep in that way!"
- Annel

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IFP participants were making the Christmas wreath together

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"Friends are the family that we chose to have, and the International Friendship Program helps expedite finding and forming a new family away from home."
- Armando

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"My conversation partner and I have been meeting regularly for about 9 months and we have grown to be great friends. We talk about our personal lives, culture, and politics. It has been such an enriching experience and I am so glad that I have been able to help him with his English. I look forward to our meetings every week and our friendship will last for a long time."
- Matthew and Jaebin

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IFP participants were meeting through Zoom

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"I believe this program is not only a chance to meet people but also a wonderful way to emotionally support the new OSU students and smooth their adaptation process. Moving to a new place far away from all friends and family is challenging, especially for shy people, and the loneliness during this stressful process can drag them down to depression. There is a big difference between having a regular conversation with people at work, and actually knowing someone that somehow can be there for you."

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"Through the program, I can learn and have a better understanding of the people and culture of the US than before. Of course, it is also really helpful to practice my English. The best benefit of this program is to make a good friendship with my partner."
- Jaebin

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"Thanks to the OSU International Friendship Program and Cathy for helping me and making my life abroad more colorful and interesting."
- Ziyan

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International participants and a community member were cooking together in a home kitchen

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Group of 3 IFP participants were hanging out together

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"I really want to thank you for finding such a nice friend. I am glad to make friends with Clara. She is a very good person with enthusiasm and patience. The important thing is we get along well. Every week we hang out together, which is definitely a relaxing time for me. I think we are not Conversation Partners but real friends. With the help of Clara, my English has improved, and I love speaking English now. I am grateful!"
- Qingying

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IFP participants were on a trip to the beach

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A group of international participants and local community members smiling together for a group photo after a shared gathering at a home

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"As a graduate student, my experiences can be fairly siloed within my department and office, but this program allowed me to meet international students and get outside of my bubble. Additionally, as an immigrant, this program allowed me to meet international students who held similar cultural identities to my own, which is really important at OSU. I never would have been able to meet my International Friendship Program partner, and now friend, without this program, and for that, I am extremely grateful."
- Lu

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"It was a wonderful experience. I learned a lot about American culture as we have discussed a lot about our cultures. I experienced, for the first time in my life, making a gingerbread house with my American friend and we laughed a lot. After this experience, I knew how many American people are friendly and nice."
- Fatimah

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"The International Friends Program gave me a friend that I never would have made otherwise. It gave me a chance to meet someone from another culture who wanted to meet another Oregonian like me. I was matched with a woman from Saudi Arabia, and I've really enjoyed learning about her, meeting her young boys, and bonding over food and memories. I'm so thankful I got this wonderful opportunity!"
- Laurel Shepard

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International IFP participant and her kid were meeting with her partner at a coffee shop

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"My conversation partner Heather invited me and my roommate to prepare a Christmas tree for her apartment. We went to a tree farm, picked up a tree, and decorated it together. We enjoyed this special and new experience for Christmas."
- Mengli

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International participants and a community member were visiting a Christmas tree farm together

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Both my partners said it was a great opportunity to practice conversational English and get more insight to American life and culture outside the classroom. I really enjoyed learning from them too and hearing about how they’re adjusting to life here. Having worked with international students for a couple years, I understand that it can be difficult to adjust to life in a new place and to learn about all the resources available to students. This program is a great way to adjust and make unique connections.” -Coral

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"We consider ourselves very lucky to participate in this program. It was a great experience not only for me but also for my family. We made many friends from different cultures thanks to the International Friendship Program. Especially our perspective towards local people living in the USA has changed."
- Alptuğ

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IFP participants and their kids were attending an event together

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"I have enjoyed spending time with my friends (Russ and Marla) from the International Friendship Program. We have got together to visit several places in Corvallis and have had food together every month since I joined the program. Our friendship still keeps going, we have a good bond. I will keep in touch with them even after I go back to my country. I would highly recommend this program for international scholars and students."
- Jiraporn

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International IFP participant and community member were hanging out together

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"Alptuğ and I had a number of wonderful opportunities to become lifelong friends. His wife and two daughters enjoyed time at our home. Coming from Turkey, the friendship, warm community welcome, and gentle atmosphere in Corvallis shattered their fears. We hope to see each other someday"
- Walt

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"Oregon State University is a crucible to amalgamate life-lasting friendships. Friends are the family that we chose to have, and the International Friendship Program helps expedite finding and forming a new family away from home. Thanks to IFP I learned to cook curry, monster cookies, green salsa, and coconut soup; though I'm much better at tasting than cooking. And, my favorite part of IFP is hiking with international friends in this —beautiful like no other— the state of Oregon"
- Armando