Wednesday, August 07, 2002

Wilmington -- The UNC Wilmington Office of International Programs invites community members to participate in the International Friendship Program by serving as a host to an International Student who will be attending UNCW this fall.

The university expects approximately 80 new international students from many different countries including Australia, United Kingdom, Japan, P.R. China, Ecuador, Sweden, Finland, Croatia, Germany, Brazil, El Salvador, India and Hungary. About 50 of those international students have applied to have host families. Most students will arrive Aug. 15-18.

The program is for individuals, couples or families who would like to offer friendship and assistance to an international student as they get settled in a strange, new environment. The students live in on-campus housing so the hosts would offer off-campus experiences.

Possible activities might include occasional meals together, assisting with transportation needs, visiting local sights, or simply relaxing and learning from one another about different cultures. The program allows the hosts to enjoy learning about another culture through a personal relationship with someone from a different corner of the world. UNCW offers a brief orientation session for host families.

To sign up or for more information, contact Miranda Boykin, UNCW Office of International Programs, 962-7009 or email boykinm@uncw.edu.