Greetings from the International Student & Scholar Office (ISSO)! We write to invite your participation in a new program initiative by the ISSO, beginning this fall ?11 Thanksgiving holiday. The initiative is designed to begin a holiday hosting program for international students who remain on campus during Thanksgiving and winter break, when the university is closed and most students have left the campus.
For many international students, especially new students, this can be a very lonely and difficult time. For many, it may be their first time away from their family and friends, they cannot afford to return home for such a short period, they may not yet have established close friendships with their classmates, and often don?t receive an invitation to anyone?s home over the holiday. These students typically remain in campus housing, lonely, homesick, and often feeling far removed from our American holiday culture; they must manage until the semester resumes.
Though this population is typically small, we?d like to provide an opportunity to make these occasions more enjoyable for this group of students. We?d like to be able to pair each student with a faculty or staff member willing to host them for a holiday meal, sharing not just dinner, but the warmth of your family and a better understanding of how Americans typically celebrate that holiday.
As a host, you would be responsible for providing transportation to the student/s both from and back to campus. This is a great opportunity to learn about another culture, share your own, and perhaps make a significant difference for a new student during a difficult adjustment period, all without a long-term commitment from you.
We want to thank you for your thoughtful consideration to this initiative and look forward to your application. Host applicants will be contacted by and ISSO staff member in the coming week or so to discuss the program in more detail and to answer any questions you may have. Thank you for opening your homes to the international students.
Regards,
Gail Gibbs, Director
International Student & Scholar Office
For additional information, contact Carrie Mittenthal in the ISSO ? {cmittenthal@towson.edu} or 410-704-2421.
