You are invited to participate in the ETSU International Family Friendship Program. Please consider helping with this rewarding and useful endeavor.

Imagine -- after a year of taking tests, then submitting application forms and academic credentials to several schools in the United States, you choose ETSU as the place to further your studies. You go to the United States Consulate (which may be located far away from your home) and apply for the student visa, which you fortunately receive after a second interview with a Consulate official. You purchase a plane ticket, pack, say goodbye to your friends and family, and settle in the economy section of a 767 plane for the long haul to the United States.

On a wintery day in January, or a summery day in August, you finally arrive at the Tri-Cities Airport, dead tired after traveling. You are starting your life as a student in a new country. You are excited, tired, frightened, insecure of your English skills, concerned about having enough money, and already missing your family. You need rest and you need a friend!

Every semester, ETSU enrolls new international students from all over the world, and we at the International Programs and Services Office strive to provide these students the support and guidance that makes for a smooth transition from home to host country. But the first few days after arrival are quite difficult for these students and we know YOU can play an important role in helping them during this critical time. Would YOU serve as an international friend? An ETSU friend offers support to an international student by picking him or her up at the airport, possibly providing housing for a couple of days, introducing him or her to the basics of American life, such as grocery shopping, banking, moving into the dorm, buying school books, etc. We hope participants will correspond with students, via email, well in advance of their arrival here.

An international student who participated in the program this past semester stated, “Words cannot express how grateful I am to them… I don’t know how I could have done it without them…They really showed me the meaning of words such as love, care, and concern.” Those ETSU faculty and staff who volunteered last semester also spoke of the benefit to them personally, such as the cross-cultural learning and the rewards of helping a stranger to our country.

There are no requirements for participation in this program, aside from a heart full of kindness and understanding. If you are interested, visit http://www.etsu.edu/honors/IFFPenrollment.asp and complete the enrollment form (your data will be maintained with the utmost privacy and has been secured for your protection).

Dr. Brent Morrow (Human Development & Learning, PO Box 70548 - morrowb@etsu.edu - 439-4187) is the primary Coordinator of this program. Please contact him if you have any questions or suggestions.

We will try to match students to your preferences (male, female, country of origin, etc.), as you indicate on the registration website. We ask that volunteers attend a short orientation session. Thank you for your consideration.

Warm regards,